| Help us record all the species that live at Plas
Farm!
Amphibians
Bats
Birds
Butterflies
Dragonflies
Fish
Fungi
Insects
Mammals
Reptiles
Trees
Wild Flowers
Over time we hope to build up a database of all the species that
live at Plas Farm. If you spot anything during your stay at the
farm, please let us know!
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Can you tell the difference between a frog and
a toad? The toad differs from the frog in a number of ways.
1. The skin of a frog is quite smooth, and a toad is more 'warty'.
2. A frog feels moist to the touch, but a toad feels dry.
3. A frog's back is raised with two ridges down each side. Toads
have a more flattened appearance.
4. Frogs move around by hopping on their strong back legs, but toads
walk.
Why not come and explore for frogs and toads at Plas Farm, holiday
cottages in Wales.
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Amphibians lead a double
life. They are animals that can live in both water and on land.
Luckily for them Plas Farm has both! So far we have recorded the
common toad (above) and the common frog (below) living at the
farm.
Although called the common frog, this species
is now becoming less common in Britain, especially in rural areas.
The widespread use of insecticides, and the diminishing number of
breeding ponds has greatly reduced their numbers. We are very
keen to find more and if you think you know a thing or two about amphibians,
then come on holiday to Wales and help us to spot them!
1. Common Frog Rana temporaria
The frog in the picture was photographed in oak woodland,
a short stroll from our self catering cottages. If only it could talk!
The frog's mum lay around 2000 eggs (called frogspawn) in water somewhere
on or near Plas Farm. In all likelihood, the frog in the picture is
one of two to have survived to become a mature adult. After 4 weeks
as an egg, it hatched into a tadpole (which look like little fish).
As a tadpole it breathed oxygen from the water through a pair of gills
located just behind the head. It remained in the water for a further
ten weeks, feeding on plants in the water. During this time it developed
front and back legs. It also gradually lost its tails, and developed
lungs. At this stage of its life it looked like a mini replica of
its parents, and it was now ready to leave the water and feed on land.
Its diet then switched from vegetable matter to insects, slugs and
worms. And then I took its photograph. And it ended up on the interent.
2. Common Toad Bufo bufo
The toad in the picture at the top of this page was spotted
by two of our guests who were on a winberry picking expedition on
the mountain behind our self catering cottages. Interestingly, the
colour of a toad varies according to the colour of the soil in its
habitat. If the soil is a greyish colour, the toads skin tends to
be greyish to blend in. If the soil is more brownish, the toad tends
to be more brownish. Being creatures of habit, you can often find
them in the same spot week after week, but because they are able to
blend in with their background, and remain motionless for hours at
a time, they can be difficult to spot. A toad stalks its prey until
it's close enough to shoot its sticky tongue out and catch it. To
help swallow its food, it blinks to push the food down. Although they
are normally associated with water, toads and frogs spend most of
their lives on dry land. They will rest in the same hiding place each
day, after their nightly hunt for food. The skin of the Common Toad
is cool and dry to the touch, but it contains a substance that burns
the mouths of animals if they try to eat one. |
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CLICK A COTTAGE
Bwthyn Y Saer
Hafod Y Wennol
Y Stabl
Ty Cerbyd
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| Those who enjoy walking whilst on holiday will
be pleased to know that we have our very own Plas Farm Trail, with
accompanying guide book which starts on your holiday cottage doorstep. |
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