Tadpoles of the midwife toad Alytes obstetricans scavenging carrion

The common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) is not native to Great Britain but approximately thirty introduced populations are known (Allain & Goodman, 2017; unpublished data), the most well-known of which is in Bedford (Beebee & Griffiths, 2000). The tadpoles of A. obstetricans grow to 80 mm in length, or 90 mm in exceptional circumstances (Boulenger, 1896). This makes their tadpoles easily recognisable and conspicuous within a given body of water, as they dwarf those of any native anurans, especially given that A. obstetricans tadpoles may overwinter if laid too late in the season to metamorphose (Speybroeck et al., 2016).