Although there are only six amphibians and three reptiles native to Scotland, these delightful animals have been part of our culture for a long time. They feature on Pictish stones and in a play ‘The Puddock and the Princess’. About other books in the series: Lichens “I hope that this book will help to raise awareness of the importance of lichens within the whole ecosystem and encourage people to go out and discover for themselves the fantastic range of species to be found in Scotland.” s c o t t i s h naturally scottish AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES Amphibians & Reptiles NATURALLY SCOTTISH About the authors: John Buckley is the Amphibian Conservation Officer for The Herpetological Conservation Trust. ISBN 1 85397 401 3 A CIP record is held at the British Library. Scottish Natural Heritage. Visit our website on http://www.snh.org.uk SNH Price £4.95 Mairi Cole (Scottish Natural Heritage) Mairi Cole has worked as a Species Advisor for ten years. She was formerly based in the JNCC in Peterborough working on wider countryside conservation issues. Since 1995 she has worked for SNH specialising in vertebrate conservation. n a t u r a l l y Rob Crilly, Environment Correspondent, The Herald Amphibians & Reptiles Amphibians & Reptiles N A T U R A L L Y S C O T T I S H © Scottish Natural Heritage 2004 ISBN 1 85397 401 3 paperback A CIPO record is held at the British Library NP2.5K1204 Acknowledgements: Advice and comments from Martin Gaywood and Lynne Farrell (SNH) Authors: John Buckley (HCT), Mairi Cole (SNH) Series Editor: Lynne Farrell (SNH) Design and production: SNH Design and Publications Photographs: N. Benvie 22, 31; L. Campbell front cover right, back cover top, frontispiece, opposite 1 bottom, 6, 14 top left, 18, 21, 27, 36 top right, 36 bottom left; S. Dalton/NHPA 4 top, 4 bottom; L. Gill/SNH contents, 7, 11, 13 top, 19, 32, 33; M. Hamblin front cover top left, front cover bottom left, opposite 1 top, 10, 24, 36 centre left, 36 bottom right; G. Logan 36 top left; J. Macpherson/SNH 8; MP/FLPA 16; R. Revels 13 bottom; 14 bottom right; N. Squirrell 28; P. Sterry 14 top right, 17, 20, 23, 26; J. Tulloch 29; D. Whitaker 9; M.B. Withers/FLPA 14 bottom left. Illustrations: David Carstairs 30; Clare Hewitt 3; Kelly Stuart 5. Scottish Natural Heritage Design and Publications Battleby Redgorton Perth PH1 3EW Tel: 01738 458530 Fax: 01738 458613 E-mail:
[email protected] www.snh.org.uk Cover photographs: Clockwise left to right: Common toad Bufo bufo Common lizard Lacerta vivipara Common frog Rana temporaria Frontispiece: Scales of Common lizard Lacerta vivipara Back cover photograph: Common frog tadpole with front and hind legs Amphibians & Reptiles N A T U R A L L Y S C O T T I S H by John Buckley (The Herpetological Conservation Trust) and Mairi Cole (Scottish Natural Heritage) Fo r e w o r d Amphibians and reptiles are surely amongst the most fascinating of all animals. As children, we become familiar at an early age with frogspawn and tadpoles, and wonder at their transformation into tiny frogs and toads. Further study of these