Common Newt

The common newt is found all across Ireland where there is suitable habitat is found. They favour ponds and shallow lake sides. The smooth newt is the only newt native to Ireland, and it is protected there under the Wildlife Acts (1976 and 2000). It is an offence to capture or kill a newt in Ireland without a licence. Both sexes are of similar size (roughly 10 cm head-to-tail length), and a similar pale brown to yellow colour.  Adult smooth newts emerge from hibernation on land from late February to May, and head towards fresh water to breed.   At this time, both sexes become more strikingly and colourfully marked, with vivid spots and orange bellies. The male also develops a wavy crest along the back and tail  to  the sexes are clearly different during the breeding season.  Once fertilised, after a few days the female starts to lay eggs. These are placed individually, usually under aquatic plant leaves at a rate of seven to 12 eggs per day. Altogether, a total of 400 eggs may be produced over the season.  After two to three weeks (depending on water temperature), the eggs hatch to a larval form  to  a tadpole or eft.   As the tadpoles mature, they develop legs (front first), and the growth and use of their lungs is matched by a gradual shrinkage of the gills. Over 10 weeks the larva gradually shift from being fully aquatic to having a body suitable for living on land. (Some may over winter in the larval state, only emerging from the water the following year).

Common Lizard

The common lizard is Irelands only reptile. occurs in drier environments, including open woodland, meadows, moorland, heath land, fens, dunes, rocks, roadsides, hedgerows and gardens. It lives mainly on the ground, although it may climb onto rocks, logs and low-growing vegetation. The length of the lizards body is less than 12 cm (5 in) (excluding the tail). The tail is up to twice as long as the body, although it is often partially or wholly lost. The limbs are short, and the head is rather round. Males have more slender bodies than females. The neck and the tail are thick.   The main colour is typically medium brown, but it can be also grey, olive brown or black.   Females may have dark stripes on their flanks and down the middle of their backs. Sometimes females also have light-coloured stripes, or dark and light spots along the sides of their backs. Most males and some females have dark spots in their undersides. Males have brightly coloured undersides  to  typically yellow or orange, but more rarely red. Females have paler, whitish under parts. The throat is white, sometimes blue.  In early spring, late autumn, and cool summer days, it basks in the sun to reach its optimum body temperature, which is about 30 °C (86 °F).  Lizards feed on invertebrates, mostly small insects.   Males reach sexual maturity at two years old, females at three years old.  Lizards mate in April or May. Males take females in their jaws before mating  to  if the female is not interested, she will bite the male fiercely. The offspring develop for about three months inside the female.   Lizards give birth to live young, an adaptation to a cool climate, but some southern populations lay eggs. The three to 10 young (or eggs) are usually produced in July.   In Ireland lizards begin hibernation in September or October usually underground or in log piles. Hibernation ends about mid-February.  

Common Frog

The common European frog was thought to have been introduced to Ireland but is now deemed to be a native species due to genetic analysis. Ireland is the most westerly part of its range. Common frogs have a three stage life cycle  ” aquatic larva, terrestrial juvenile, and adult.   They have fat bodies with a rounded snout, webbed feet and long hind legs adapted for swimming in water and hopping on land.  Adult common frogs have a body length of 6 to 9 centimetres (2.4 to 3.5 in).  Their backs and flanks vary in colour from olive green to grey-brown, brown, olive brown, grey, yellowish and rufous. Both black and red individuals have been found and albino frogs have been seen with yellow skin and red eyes.  Common frogs are known to be able to lighten and darken their skin in order to match their surroundings.  Newly hatched tadpoles are mainly plant eating. They  feed on algae, detritus, plants and some small invertebrates. They become fully carnivorous once their back legs develop and feed on small water animals or even other tadpoles when food is scarce.  Juvenile frogs feed on invertebrates both on land and in water.   Adults only feed on land. Common  frogs eat mainly insects (especially flies), snails, slugs and worms. They feed on any invertebrate of a suitable size, catching their prey on their long, sticky tongues. They do not feed during the short breeding season. Common  frogs eat mainly insects (especially flies), snails, slugs and worms.  Outside the breeding season, common frogs live a alone in damp places near ponds or marshes or in long grass. They are normally active for much of the year, only hibernating in the coldest months.  Common frogs breed in shallow, still, fresh water such as ponds, with spawning commencing sometime between March an late June, but generally in April .  Tadpoles are eaten by fish, beetles, dragonfly larvae and birds. Adult frogs have many predators including storks, birds of prey, crows, gulls, ducks, terns, herons, pine martens, stoats, weasels, polecats, badgers and otters. Some frogs are killed, but rarely eaten, by domestic cats, and large numbers are killed on the roads by motor vehicles.