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| *****SWAAG_ID***** | 988 |
| Date Entered | 14/04/2017 |
| Updated on | 14/04/2017 |
| Recorded by | Tim Laurie |
| Category | Fauna |
| Record Type | Fauna HER |
| Site Access | Public Access Land |
| Record Date | 11/04/2017 |
| Location | Cotherstone Moor. Scur Beck. |
| Civil Parish | Not known |
| Brit. National Grid | Hidden |
| Altitude | 260m |
| Record Name | Cotherstone Moor. Scur Beck. An impressive tangle of toad spawn under close guard |
| Record Description | This tangle of ribbon like toad spawn in the bottom of a deep, slow pool on Scur Beck was, at first notice, thought to be an aquatic plant. But on closer view was seen to be a large quantity of toad spawn.
The spawn, presumably produced by a single female toad, takes the form of a closely intertwined tangle of dirty but translucent tubing of a glue-like substance which safely contained two spirally coiled (like DNA!) strands of rather large black toad eggs. The total length coiled in this tangle was judged to be of considerable (ie. 10m perhaps) total length.
While admiring this surprising potential toad nursery, Mrs Toad appeared (see photos) and indicated that her fine work was no business of mine. I agreed that it was indeed her business and departed. |
| Dimensions | See photos |
| Additional Notes | Having examined this deposit of toad spawn, I wondered how a single toad could produce such a great quantity of eggs and why the spawn was laid in such a great endless tangle.
Since Herons are probably the greatest threat to toad spawn, I suggest that a heron would not be able to find a free end and have great difficulty in swallowing such a length of eggs contained within a tube of glue. The bird would be at risk 0f strangulation with the tangle around its head. |
| Image 1 ID | 7271 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 1 Description | The toad spawn photographed under water as first seen |  |
| Image 2 ID | 7268 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 2 Description | Detail to show the double strand of toad eggs |  |
| Image 3 ID | 7270 Click image to enlarge |
| Image 3 Description | Mrs Toad appears |  |
