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Enter if you Dare! Housed in its own marqueed area within the show, our Reptile and Amphibian area is full of unusual and interesting animals. To help you work your way around the marquee, here's a brief description of the types of animals you will see: AMPHIBIANS Amphibians are small creatures with a water-permeable skin, which restricts them to damp habitats, although some are more tolerant of dryness than others. All species in the UK require water for breeding, and lay waterborne eggs. These develop into tadpoles which eventually change into the adult form, and leave the water. This metamorphosis is characteristic of amphibians. 
Breeding takes place in spring, although common frogs may breed as early as January in some areas. After breeding has finished, the adults usually leave the water, and do not return until the next year. Being ectothermic ('cold-blooded'), amphibians cannot generate their own warmth. They are thus not active at low temperatures, and will retreat into frost-free hiding places in the winter, where they remain in a state of torpor until the weather becomes warmer. Some may spend the winter in the water they will breed in come spring. Native amphibians in mainland Britain are represented by three species belonging to the order Urodela (newts and salamanders), and three (possibly four) belonging to the order Anura (frogs and toads). In addition, there are a number of additional species which occur only on the Channel Islands. There are also introduced species which have lived and bred in the wild for varying periods of time. REPTILES Unlike amphibians, reptiles have dry, scaly skins, and have no need for water for breeding. Reptiles may have live young, or lay eggs, and the offspring produced are generally miniatures of the adults, and undergo no metamorphosis. 
Like amphibians, reptiles are ectothermic, and rely on external heat sources to maintain their body temperature. They prefer somewhat higher temperatures than amphibians, and will often bask in the sun, or lie on objects warmed by the sun, to raise their temperature to that necessary for activity. Native reptiles in mainland Britain are represented by three species belonging to the suborder Sauria (lizards), and three belonging to the suborder Serpentes (snakes). As with the amphibians, a couple of additional species occur only on the Channel Islands. A number of species have been introduced in the past, although these have not remained for as long as with the amphibian species. |
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