Amphibians
at Dunsany
Dunsany’s rewilding efforts have helped create the damp, undisturbed habitats amphibians need to thrive. As both predator and prey, they play an important role in balancing insect populations and supporting wider food webs. Their presence signals a healthy, recovering ecosystem.
The Importance of Amphibians in Rewilding
Amphibians are key indicators of a healthy ecosystem and play a vital role in rewilding efforts at places like Dunsany Estate. As both predators and prey, they help regulate insect populations and support food webs for birds, mammals, and other species.
Their sensitivity to changes in water quality, temperature, and habitat makes them excellent markers of environmental recovery.
By restoring wetlands, ponds, and natural watercourses, rewilding creates the conditions amphibians need to breed, feed, and thrive, contributing to greater biodiversity and ecological balance across the estate.
Learn about the Amphibians in Dunsany Estate
Amphibians in Dunsany Estate
Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)
Grows 7 to 11 cm in length
Feeds on tadpoles and molluscs in water, and insects and slugs on land
Ireland’s only native newt species and the only member of the Urodela (tailed amphibians)
Found in woodlands, scrublands, and overwintering in rotting logs and woodpiles
Breeds from February to June in ponds and other still water
Females lay up to 300 eggs, each wrapped in aquatic plant leaves
Juveniles, known as “efts,” reach maturity after 2 to 3 years
Amphibians in Dunsany Estate
Common Frog (Rana temporaria)
The only native frog species in Ireland
Protected under the Irish Wildlife Act and the EU Habitats Directive
European populations are in decline
May be confused with the Natterjack Toad in parts of Kerry (Dingle and Iveragh Peninsulas)
Found near ponds, ditches, wetlands, and also in grasslands and woodlands
Breeds in spring, laying eggs in large jelly-like clumps (frogspawn) in shallow water
Tadpoles develop into froglets with legs and tails, eventually leaving the water to live on land
