Archive - Aug 5, 2006

I had a surprise this morning when looking for a marrow to stuff. A small amphibian was resting inside one of the courgette flowers and it was well coated in pollen. At first sight I thought it was a common frog (Rana temporaria) but the warty skin and similarity to previous sightings make me sure it's a baby common toad (Bufo bufo). It got me thinking whether toads or frogs are flower pollinators anywhere in the world. I didn't manage to get an answer after a quick google around although I suspect there must be some species of perhaps tree frogs that are rainforest pollinators?