The slave maker is a species of ant(Formica sanguinea). It lives on heathland and relies on other ant species to rear its young while the main workforce hunts.They kill existing queens of nests of various species and then enslave the workers. They are similar in appearance to the southern wood and (Formica rufa), but have small differences. They also bite instead of spraying formic acid as the latter species often does.
In the heathland pools, tiny common frogs (Rana temporaria) and toads(bufo bufo) emerge from the mud to hop around the edges until they are a little bigger . There is a size difference between the two emerging species:the toad being the dark smallest individual. The frog is a bit larger than usual. The toad will move away from the pond and will not be back until three years time at least, or when when it is large enough to breed.Toads do not need water like frogs do and can live in dry conditions nocturnally hunting for small creatures. The frogs will stay within the damp grassy areas of water and breed when they are also three years old.
The female slow worm (Anguis fragilis)is gravid (pregnant) and is about to give birth to tiny white topped replicas of herself.Most female slow worms have a dark dorsal line running the whole length of the back as this one does.
Newts such as this smooth newt( Triturus vulgaris) live on dry land once they have bred or before they are old enough to breed and live under damp logs and stones. Looking quite different from the watery skinned or crested breeding animals it is easy for one to mistake them for lizards.
