91热爆

Ainsdale in Merseyside is a harsh habitat for wildlife. You have to be a specialist to survive in the dunes. The common toad is one creature that thrives here and is found in abundance. Sanjida O'Connell finds a temporary pool full of common toad tadpoles. The pressure is on for them to grow up fast before the pool dries out, so they eat as much algae as possible, as quickly as they can, to encourage metamorphosis to take place. Ainsdale is also home to the UK's rare natterjack toad. Sanjida goes on a nighttime toad walk with Mike Downey of Natural England as that's when the toads are most active. There is an impressive frog chorus, the sound of the Tropics in the heart of Lancashire. Mike points out that It is illegal to handle a natterjack without a license as he finds and shows one to Sanjida. The natterjack has a stripe down the back, yellow eyes and quite short legs - it walks rather than hops. This one is recognisable as a male as it has little brown pads on the end of his toes for clinging on to a female - the nuptial pads. There aren't many places in Europe where you can hear a frog chorus like that of the natterjack.