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  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128095.jpg
  • Brown Trout - Salmo trutta
    157592.jpg
  • Blue Shark - Prionace glauca. Length to 2m. Large, predatory shark. Feeds mainly on squid and fish. Tagging records indicate most British individuals are immature females that migrate long distances. Adult is blue-grey above and whitish below. Scarce seasonal visitor, mainly to SW.
    157162.jpg
  • Blue Shark - Prionace glauca. Length to 2m. Large, predatory shark. Feeds mainly on squid and fish. Tagging records indicate most British individuals are immature females that migrate long distances. Adult is blue-grey above and whitish below. Scarce seasonal visitor, mainly to SW.
    157163.jpg
  • Blue Shark - Prionace glauca. Length to 2m. Large, predatory shark. Feeds mainly on squid and fish. Tagging records indicate most British individuals are immature females that migrate long distances. Adult is blue-grey above and whitish below. Scarce seasonal visitor, mainly to SW.
    157161.jpg
  • Thongweed - Himanthalia elongata
    155938.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    155037.jpg
  • Eelgrass - Zostera marina. Eelgrass bed, off St Helen's, Isles of Scilly.
    153708.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    141703.jpg
  • White-beaked Dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris Delphinidae Length 2.5-2.8m Large, well-marked dolphin. Lives in schools of 3-15 individuals. Adult has black back and dorsal fin, broad, pale band behind eye and oblique greyish white stripe on flanks. Snub-nosed beak is strikingly pale and throat and belly are also pale. Seen above the water, the beak usually looks pale pinkish grey but when submerged filtering effects of seawater make it appear gleaming white. Flippers are broadly triangular and dorsal fin is sickle-shaped.
    144345.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    101725.jpg
  • Palmate Newt Triturus helveticus Length 8-9cm A small newt. Adult has yellowish belly and pinkish, unspotted throat at all times. Note hint of pale vertical stripe above hind legs. Breeding male develops diagnostic palmations between toes on hind feet and thin filament projecting from tip of blunt tail. Body is olive-brown with dark marbling; orange-buff band extends along flanks and side of tail. Colours are duller at other times but retains dark eye stripe. Female is yellowish brown. Unspotted throat allows separation from female Smooth Newt (throat is spotted). Juvenile resembles an adult female. Locally common in neutral to acid ponds in breeding season, often on heaths and moors. Found in grassy habitats at other times.
    105093.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    112986.jpg
  • Common Toad Bufo bufo Length 5-9cm A widespread toad; the only common species in Britain. Skin is covered in toxin-containing warts. Spawn is laid in double-rowed spawn strings. Gait consists of short hops. Adult is olive-brown to greenish buff (hue is influenced by ambient light). Has red iris and webbed hind feet. Female is larger than male. Juvenile recalls a tiny, large-headed adult. Courting male utters croaking calls in spring. More terrestrial than most other amphibians and adults spend much of their lives on land:  woodland, scrub, grassland and moors are favoured. Must return to water to breed and most are found within 2km or so of suitable ponds. Not deterred by fish: tadpole’ toxic skin acts as deterrent to predation. Observation tips Courting is easy to watch in suitable ponds in spring (February-March are typical months). Sometimes found hibernating under logs in winter.
    114336.jpg
  • Palmate Newt Triturus helveticus Length 8-9cm A small newt. Adult has yellowish belly and pinkish, unspotted throat at all times. Note hint of pale vertical stripe above hind legs. Breeding male develops diagnostic palmations between toes on hind feet and thin filament projecting from tip of blunt tail. Body is olive-brown with dark marbling; orange-buff band extends along flanks and side of tail. Colours are duller at other times but retains dark eye stripe. Female is yellowish brown. Unspotted throat allows separation from female Smooth Newt (throat is spotted). Juvenile resembles an adult female. Locally common in neutral to acid ponds in breeding season, often on heaths and moors. Found in grassy habitats at other times.
    115556.jpg
  • Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris Length 9-10cm Well-marked newt. Usually hibernates underground November-February. Returns to breeding ponds in early spring. Performs elaborate courtship displays prior to egg-laying. Adult is buffish brown with whitish throat variably dark-spotted. Females have small black spots over rest of body that sometimes coalesce to form lines along body and onto tail. Males are marked with large, blotchy spots, most intense in breeding season when they acquire wavy crest along back and around tail; belly is variably flushed orange and adorned with dark spots. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Favours fish-free neutral to alkaline ponds for breeding. At other times, found in open woodland, commons and mature gardens.
    120990.jpg
  • Palmate Newt Triturus helveticus Length 8-9cm A small newt. Adult has yellowish belly and pinkish, unspotted throat at all times. Note hint of pale vertical stripe above hind legs. Breeding male develops diagnostic palmations between toes on hind feet and thin filament projecting from tip of blunt tail. Body is olive-brown with dark marbling; orange-buff band extends along flanks and side of tail. Colours are duller at other times but retains dark eye stripe. Female is yellowish brown. Unspotted throat allows separation from female Smooth Newt (throat is spotted). Juvenile resembles an adult female. Locally common in neutral to acid ponds in breeding season, often on heaths and moors. Found in grassy habitats at other times.
    120995.jpg
  • Common Toad Bufo bufo Length 5-9cm A widespread toad; the only common species in Britain. Skin is covered in toxin-containing warts. Spawn is laid in double-rowed spawn strings. Gait consists of short hops. Adult is olive-brown to greenish buff (hue is influenced by ambient light). Has red iris and webbed hind feet. Female is larger than male. Juvenile recalls a tiny, large-headed adult. Courting male utters croaking calls in spring. More terrestrial than most other amphibians and adults spend much of their lives on land:  woodland, scrub, grassland and moors are favoured. Must return to water to breed and most are found within 2km or so of suitable ponds. Not deterred by fish: tadpole’ toxic skin acts as deterrent to predation. Observation tips Courting is easy to watch in suitable ponds in spring (February-March are typical months). Sometimes found hibernating under logs in winter.
    121995.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    127655.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    127658.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    128475.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    128476.jpg
  • Palmate Newt Triturus helveticus Length 8-9cm A small newt. Adult has yellowish belly and pinkish, unspotted throat at all times. Note hint of pale vertical stripe above hind legs. Breeding male develops diagnostic palmations between toes on hind feet and thin filament projecting from tip of blunt tail. Body is olive-brown with dark marbling; orange-buff band extends along flanks and side of tail. Colours are duller at other times but retains dark eye stripe. Female is yellowish brown. Unspotted throat allows separation from female Smooth Newt (throat is spotted). Juvenile resembles an adult female. Locally common in neutral to acid ponds in breeding season, often on heaths and moors. Found in grassy habitats at other times.
    128477.jpg
  • Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris Length 9-10cm Well-marked newt. Usually hibernates underground November-February. Returns to breeding ponds in early spring. Performs elaborate courtship displays prior to egg-laying. Adult is buffish brown with whitish throat variably dark-spotted. Females have small black spots over rest of body that sometimes coalesce to form lines along body and onto tail. Males are marked with large, blotchy spots, most intense in breeding season when they acquire wavy crest along back and around tail; belly is variably flushed orange and adorned with dark spots. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Favours fish-free neutral to alkaline ponds for breeding. At other times, found in open woodland, commons and mature gardens.
    128479.jpg
  • Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris Length 9-10cm Well-marked newt. Usually hibernates underground November-February. Returns to breeding ponds in early spring. Performs elaborate courtship displays prior to egg-laying. Adult is buffish brown with whitish throat variably dark-spotted. Females have small black spots over rest of body that sometimes coalesce to form lines along body and onto tail. Males are marked with large, blotchy spots, most intense in breeding season when they acquire wavy crest along back and around tail; belly is variably flushed orange and adorned with dark spots. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Favours fish-free neutral to alkaline ponds for breeding. At other times, found in open woodland, commons and mature gardens.
    128481.jpg
  • Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris Length 9-10cm Well-marked newt. Usually hibernates underground November-February. Returns to breeding ponds in early spring. Performs elaborate courtship displays prior to egg-laying. Adult is buffish brown with whitish throat variably dark-spotted. Females have small black spots over rest of body that sometimes coalesce to form lines along body and onto tail. Males are marked with large, blotchy spots, most intense in breeding season when they acquire wavy crest along back and around tail; belly is variably flushed orange and adorned with dark spots. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Favours fish-free neutral to alkaline ponds for breeding. At other times, found in open woodland, commons and mature gardens.
    128685.jpg
  • Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris Length 9-10cm Well-marked newt. Usually hibernates underground November-February. Returns to breeding ponds in early spring. Performs elaborate courtship displays prior to egg-laying. Adult is buffish brown with whitish throat variably dark-spotted. Females have small black spots over rest of body that sometimes coalesce to form lines along body and onto tail. Males are marked with large, blotchy spots, most intense in breeding season when they acquire wavy crest along back and around tail; belly is variably flushed orange and adorned with dark spots. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Favours fish-free neutral to alkaline ponds for breeding. At other times, found in open woodland, commons and mature gardens.
    144107.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    144142.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    144146.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    144149.jpg
  • Great Shearwater - Ardenna gravis
    140291.jpg
  • Eelgrass - Zostera marina. Eelgrass bed, off St Helen's, Isles of Scilly.
    153707.jpg
  • Thong Weed Himanthalia elongata. Length to 1m. Slender yellowish-brown seaweed. Grows attached to rocks on the lower shore, on rather sheltered coasts. FROND is strap-like are rather narrow (less than 1cm across); grows from centre of tough button-like structure attached to rock. STATUS Widespread and locally in W and N Britain; absent from most of SE.
    153706.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    144356.jpg
  • Palmate Newt Triturus helveticus Length 8-9cm A small newt. Adult has yellowish belly and pinkish, unspotted throat at all times. Note hint of pale vertical stripe above hind legs. Breeding male develops diagnostic palmations between toes on hind feet and thin filament projecting from tip of blunt tail. Body is olive-brown with dark marbling; orange-buff band extends along flanks and side of tail. Colours are duller at other times but retains dark eye stripe. Female is yellowish brown. Unspotted throat allows separation from female Smooth Newt (throat is spotted). Juvenile resembles an adult female. Locally common in neutral to acid ponds in breeding season, often on heaths and moors. Found in grassy habitats at other times.
    103193.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    127657.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128101.jpg
  • Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus Length 14-16cm Britain’s largest newt. Present in breeding ponds February-August. Adult is mainly blackish brown with variable dark spots and patches, and white-tipped warts. Underparts, from neck to vent, are orange-yellow with black spots; blackish throat has smallish orange-yellow spots. Breeding male develops large, jagged dorsal crest and undulating crest on tail; pale stripe runs along centre of tail. Female, non-breeding male and juvenile lack a crest and body is darker; note yellowish stripe along lower edge of tail. Scarce and local. Favours neutral to slightly alkaline, fish-free ponds that seldom dry up for breeding. Woods and scrub are used at other times. Protected by law in Britain and parts of Europe.
    144148.jpg
  • Smooth Newt Triturus vulgaris Length 9-10cm Well-marked newt. Usually hibernates underground November-February. Returns to breeding ponds in early spring. Performs elaborate courtship displays prior to egg-laying. Adult is buffish brown with whitish throat variably dark-spotted. Females have small black spots over rest of body that sometimes coalesce to form lines along body and onto tail. Males are marked with large, blotchy spots, most intense in breeding season when they acquire wavy crest along back and around tail; belly is variably flushed orange and adorned with dark spots. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Favours fish-free neutral to alkaline ponds for breeding. At other times, found in open woodland, commons and mature gardens.
    144203.jpg
  • Brown Trout - Salmo trutta
    161223.jpg
  • Blue Shark - Prionace glauca
    159793.jpg
  • Brown Trout - Salmo trutta
    156271.jpg
  • Brown Trout - Salmo trutta
    161222.jpg