pond spawn white nucleus not frog not toad not newt
what creature lays it?

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Request for Question Clarification by nellie_bly-ga on 09 Mar 2003 15:19 PST

Are the eggs loosely clumped, all in one "blob" or in a string?  Are
they floating, on the bottom of the pool or attached to plant?

Are these eggs in the pond now and where is the pond, what state? Is
this a large pond or a vernal pool, or what?  Is it near or in
woodlands?

Any  additional information will help.

Thanks.

Nellie Bly
Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by small-ga on 10 Mar 2003 04:34 PST

The eggs are all in one blob, the size of a tennis ball.  They are
attached to a plant qite near the surface.  The eggs are smaller than
frog spawn.

The eggs appeared two or three days ago in a plastic pond 5 ft in
diametre.  The pond is in healthy condition - no smell.  No fish, but
there is frog spawn in the pond, and there are frogs about.  It is
near the house, in a small garden in Radley, Abingdon (just south of
Oxford). There is an area of scrubland beyond.  No woodlands.

This query is for my sister;  she is interested in pond life, but not
in computers.  I thought your picture was ambiguous, as in the central
blob the jelly looks opaque, whereas in the two outer blobs it is
transparent.  She says hers is transparent.

She was intrigued by the comment "Salamander?" from magnesium-ga.  She
said the spawn might be right as described for a salamander, but
surely there are none in this country?  And if it had got here by
chance, it would probably be a loner, and the eggs would not be
fertilized.

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Request for Question Clarification by nellie_bly-ga on 10 Mar 2003 07:14 PST

Hi small,

Yes, I am reading your messages.    
Do I read correctly that you are in the UK  not the US?

Hi small-

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)

Since frog and toad eggs are black, the eggs in your pond are almost
certainly newt eggs.
And, since they are white, most likely those of the crested newt.
"Crested newt eggs are somewhat larger, (the embryo size is about 2.5
mm; those of smooth and palmate newts are about 1.5 mm in diameter)
and are pale yellow or white, as opposed to the brownish colour of the
other two species."
http://www.darkwave.org.uk/~caleb/trituk.html 

A nature trust near you would probably be very interested in the eggs
in your little pond.  You may wish to participate in a "pond survey."
http://www.offwell.free-online.co.uk/tadfrog.htm

http://www.btcv.org.uk/cgi-bin/database_searches/website_groups.pl?region=South_East



Here are some other web sites that may be of interest:

AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE SPECIES IN THE UK
http://www.darkwave.org.uk/~caleb/ukspecie.html

NEWTS to be found in British Gardens
http://www.marinebiology.co.uk/newts.htm


http://parish-wildlife.org.uk/contacts/ponds.htm

http://www.lincstrust.co.uk/species/amphibia/amphibia.html


Amphibian Life Cycle
http://www.offwell.free-online.co.uk/tadfrog.htm

Search strategy: amphibians UK site:uk  amphibian eggs  site:uk

Nellie Bly
Google Answers Researcher

Still don't really know what the spawn is, but thanks anyway.

Salamander?

Take a look at the eggs on this site  
http://www.lastgreatplaces.org/berkshire/images/photo771.jpg

do they resemble what you have?

Nellie Bly

Thanks for your comment 'salamander?'.  The spawn might fit that
description, but surely there are no salamanders in this country?

Am getting help from nellie_bly-ga.  Are you able to read my
additional information to her?