This is a Mr (top) and Mrs Natterjack in [amplexus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplexus) which is a Latin term meaning ’embrace’. It’s how they make toad babies… Amplexus is a form of mating which is almost unique to amphibians (the only other species observed to mate this way are horseshoe ‘crabs’ (quotes because they’re not really crabs, they’re not even crustaceans, they’re known as [Xiphosura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphosura) and are more closely related to arachnids).
As with most amphibians, the female is larger than the male. They mate between April and July – and, as someone’s already alluded, the males are [LOUD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natterjack_toad) (top video calling males)!
Amphibian populations are in [stark decline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_amphibian_populations) all over the world, so it’s genuinely heartwarming to see a captive rearing program like this one yield such promising results. The NPWS, Fota Wildlife Park, and Dingle Oceanworld, really knocked it out of the park here. It really can’t be understated just how much good work these facilities do for Irish wildlife conservation.
11 comments
Natterjacks a funny name, I’d have called them chazzwazzas
Sadly Ned Natterjack’s closed last year, so there is no appropriately themed pub to celebrate this news in.
Welcome to Natterjacks Park
I am so used to depressing news these days I fully expected the last part to be “-giant furnace” or something.
Natterjacks sounds like a decent place to get a beer or fry up for some reason
Is that Tommy Shlug
Also the name of a great whiskey
Is this Inch beach? The summer seasonal car park! They never stood a chance the poor feckers
https://preview.redd.it/tzwptdcvubed1.jpeg?width=2688&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f31f33c5e56ce9d022b2e751f1c1d9c304ee6fc
This is a Mr (top) and Mrs Natterjack in [amplexus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplexus) which is a Latin term meaning ’embrace’. It’s how they make toad babies… Amplexus is a form of mating which is almost unique to amphibians (the only other species observed to mate this way are horseshoe ‘crabs’ (quotes because they’re not really crabs, they’re not even crustaceans, they’re known as [Xiphosura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphosura) and are more closely related to arachnids).
As with most amphibians, the female is larger than the male. They mate between April and July – and, as someone’s already alluded, the males are [LOUD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natterjack_toad) (top video calling males)!
[https://www.arc-trust.org/natterjack-toad](https://www.arc-trust.org/natterjack-toad) – good video here.
Amphibian populations are in [stark decline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_amphibian_populations) all over the world, so it’s genuinely heartwarming to see a captive rearing program like this one yield such promising results. The NPWS, Fota Wildlife Park, and Dingle Oceanworld, really knocked it out of the park here. It really can’t be understated just how much good work these facilities do for Irish wildlife conservation.
Great news!