Mammals,reptiles,amphibians,fish

Oryctolagus cuniculus (body 35-50 cm; tail 5-8 cm) Rabbit A grey-brown furred, long eared burrowing mammal with long legs. The ears are rounded. Rabbits are found almost everywhere, but do particularly well where vegetation is short e.g. grassland and arable farmland. Herbivorous, social mammals that breed all-year, but mainly from March to September with each female producing up to 7 litters (4-8 young in each). Rabbits are heavily predated by foxes, badgers, stoats and buzzards amongst others.

Lepus europaeus (body 45-65 cm; tail 7-12 cm) Brown Hare Rabbit like but with onger legs and ears. The ears are ponited and tipped with black fur. The tail has a dark upper surface. Does not burrow. Found in arable farmland, woodland and meadows throughout most of the UK. Herbivorous, grazing on grass and young shoots. Remaining solitary for most of the year, male hares may be seen during March 'boxing' for the right to mate with females. Up to 3 litters are produced through the year containing 3-4 young each. Image taken at Fields near Garston Wood RSPB reserve, Sixpenny Handley, Wiltshire .

Rattus norvegicus (body 20-27 cm; tail 16-23 cm) Brown rat Resembles a larger mouse with a thicker scaly tails and shorter legs relative to body size. Greyish-brown fur. Widespread throughout the UK, frequently associated with rubbish dumps, sewers, farms and urban areas where food may be discarded. Mainly nocturnal. Omnivorous. Females can produce 5-10 litters each year (6-9 young in each).Image taken at River Avon, Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Sciuris vulgaris (body 20-25 cm; tail 15-20 cm) Red squirrel Distinctive native squirrel with reddish-brown fur, tufted ears and long bushy tail. Due to competition with the Grey Squirrel, the Red Squirrel is mainly found in confier forests of Scotland, Northumberland and Cumbria. Isolated pockets occur in Mid-Wales, Norfolk and certain south coast islands. Mainly forage for food in the trees, eating nuts, seeds and berries. Females produce one litter in early spring containing 3-5 young. Image taken at Lake District .

Scirius carolinenisis (body 25-30 cm; tail 20-25 cm) Grey squirrel Widespread and abundant. An alien introduced from North America. Common in parks and gardens as well as widespread in the woods and forests of the Uk, absent from the North Scotland at present. Active during the day mainly foraging in the trees, but readily come down to the ground. The varied diet consists of nuts, seeds, berries and tree bark. The young are born in early spring in a litter of 2-3. Image taken at Fields near Garston Wood RSPB reserve, Sixpenny Handley, Wiltshire .

Halichoerus grypus (body 220-320 cm) Grey seal Larger and more heavily set than the common seal. Very inquisitive in the water. Often associated with rocky shores, found throughout the seas of the UK except the south coast from Devon to Norfolk. Carnivorous feeding on fish, squid and crustaceans. Mating occurs in autmun and winter, with the pups being born the following autumn. Image taken at Skomer Island, Marloes, Pembrokeshire .

Micromys minutus (body 5-8 cm; tail 5-7 cm) Harvest mouse Golden-yellow on top with a white underside. The smallest rodent. Found in managed hay meadows, dry reed-beds and field margins. Found throughout England up to the Midlands, but rarer further north and absent from Scotland. Weave a nest ~10cm in diameter from plant stems. Females can poduce 3-6 litters a year (4-8 young in each). Primarily vegetarian eating berries and seeds, they will also eat insects and spiders. Image taken at New Forest Owl and Otter Centre, New Forest, Hampshire .

Vulpes vulpes (body 60-90 cm; tail 35-45 cm) Red fox Distinctive reddish-orange furred, nocturnal mammal resembling a dog. The mouth and underparts are white, as is the tip of the tail.Widespread and common; adaptable occurring in woodland, farmland, moors and even urban settings. Generally carnivorous but willtake berries, fruit and carrion, and regularly scavenges in towns. Reside in burrows known as an earth during the day. Territorial, mating occurs in winter with the young born in spring. The single litter comprising 4-5 cubs, that remain cared for until the autumn. Image taken at New Forest Owl and Otter Centre, New Forest, Hampshire .

Mustela nivalis (body 18-30 cm; tail 5-10 cm) Weasel Elongated, agile mammal with orange-brown fur on the top, head, legs and tail. The underparts are white. The colour of the coat remains the same in the winter, distinguishing the weasel and stoat. Males are larger than the females. Widespread and common in woodlands, farmland, hedgerows, meadows and moors. Carnivorous, feeding on small mammals and birds. Solitary, mating in spring with the young (4-6 per litter) born 5 weeks later. Image taken at New Forest Owl and Otter Centre, New Forest, Hampshire .

Mustela vison (body 30-45 cm; tail 15-22 cm) American mink An agile predator introduced from North America associated with aquatic habitats; a fur farm escapee. The fur is almost blackexcept for a white patch beneath the throat. Widespread. Found along the banks of stillwaters and rivers eating fish, birds, rodents, frogs, insects, crustaceans and rabbits. Mating occurs in winter with the young born in spring; 4-6 in the single litter. Image taken at New Forest Owl and Otter Centre, New Forest, Hampshire .

Cervus elaphus (shoulder height: male 105-130 cm; female 100-115 cm) Red deer Reddish brown fur in summer turning greysih-brown in the winter. The rump is white contrasting with the brown tail. The males have thick necks compared to other species and the antlers resemble that of Sika deer. Found where woodland, moorland and grassland meet offering a range of habitats for feeding and cover. Populations are scattered at diverse locations throughout the UK. Herbivorous feeding on a range of grasses, heather and foliage.Rutting occurs from September to Octoberwith the calves born in the late spring, generally 1 per female. Image taken at New Forest Owl and Otter Centre, New Forest, Hampshire .

Dama dama (shoulder height: male 90-100 cm; female 80-85 cm) Fallow deer Reddish brown coat with pale spots in the summer, changing to a dark greyish-brown in the winter. The male develops palmate antlers in the spring. Widespread throughout England and much of Wales and southern Scotland. Found where woodland, farmland and scrub meet. Herbivorous feeding on grass and other vegetation. The mating 'rut' occurs through October and November with fawns being born the next summer.

Cervus nippon (shoulder height: male 80-90 cm; female 70-80 cm) Sika deer Reddish-brown coat with white spots during the summer. Greyish-brown coats in the winter. The rump is white bordered with a black rim. The antlers are produced in spring and are lightly branched, increasing in the number of branches and size over the years. Usually associated with woodland. The mating rut occurs in August and September, with the calves being born in late spring, generally 1 per female. Image taken at Arne RSPB reserve, near Wareham, Dorset .

Suis scrofa (body 100-150 cm; tail 20-30 cm) Wild boar Bristly greyish-brown fur. Thick heavily set body with a head that tapers to a blunt snout. The females and young live in herds. The young are reddish-brown with longitudinal pale stripes. A few wild colonies exist in Kent, Sussex and Dorset. Forage on the ground for seeds, roots, plant shoots and invertebrates. Litters are produced in spring (4-8 young). Dangerous if startled. Image taken at Fields near Garston Wood RSPB reserve, Sixpenny Handley, Wiltshire .

Equus caballus (shoulder height 120-140 cm) New Forest pony Variable colour, typically red-brown. Image taken at New Forest, Fritham, Hampshire .

Macropus rufogriseus (body 60-70 cm; tail 60-70 cm) Red-necked wallaby Distinctive hopping marsupial escapee from wildlife parks. Introduced into the Peak District, Sussex and escaped from Whipsnade Zoo - unlikely these populations have survived. Found in open habitats with covering woodland. Vegetarian and mainly nocturnal. Image taken at New Forest Owl and Otter Centre, New Forest, Hampshire .

Anguis fragilis (30-40 cm) Slow-worm Legless lizard that resembles a snake. Distinguished by its ability to close its eyelids. Generally coppery-brown with black speckles. Females are similar in colour to the males butpossess a black marking down the back. Some individuals may be adorned with blue spots. The young are silver or gold with black flanks. Shed tails as a response to aid escape from predators. Found in a range of habitats including rough grassland, transport embankments, woodland margins, heaths and moors. Often found basking beneath discarded metal. Hibernate from October to March. Mate during spring, giving live birth to young in autumn (5-10 young per female). Feed on slugs, earthworms and porbably other invertebrates.Widespread and common. Image taken at Durlston Country Park, Swanage, Dorset . (a) Adult male, (b) Juvenile

Lacerta vivipara (10-15 cm) Common lizard , Vivaporous lizard Commonest of the limbed lizards. Variable colour, but usually shadings of brown. Slender bodied with the head ending in a point. The sexes are differentiated by their underparts, a males being bright yellowish-orange. Sheds tail as a defence mechanism. Widespread and local in rough grassland, transport embankments, heaths and moors. Often seen sunbathing, particulalry after hibernation. Hibernate from late October to April in underground burrows and recesses. Mating occurs in spring and the females give birth to 4-10 live young encased in a thin membrane - the young break free within an couple of hours. Image taken at Martin Down, near Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Vipera berus (male 45-55 cm; female 50-60 cm) Adder Variable body colour - reddish-brown, greenish-yellow or greyish-cream with a distinctive black 'zig-zag' mark. The only poisonous snake in the UK. Widespread but locally distributed in heaths, moors, open woodland and rough grassland. Often found basking in the sun, particularly after hibernation in early May. The young gestate within the female and are born within a thin membrane. Up to 12 young may be produced this way. Image taken at Martin Down, near Salisbury, Wiltshire .

Rana temporia (6-10 cm) Common frog Smooth moist skin distinguishes frogs from toads. Variable colour but usually olive-yellow or greyish-brown with variable dark markings, creamy-white beneath. The eye has a yellow iris. The hind feet have five webbed toes. The female is usually larger. Characteristic croaking during the mating season. Found in many habitats in the presence of stillwaters for breeding. Widespread and common. Hibernate in mud at the bottom of stillwaters in a torpid state. Mating occurs in early spring. The eggs are laid in a gelatinous mass producing characteristic 'frogspawn'. Within weeks the eggs hatch into tadpoles, eventually gaining hind legs then forelegs, before the tail is reduced. Emergence from the pond occurs 3-4 months after hatching. Feed on many invertebrates. Image taken at Meathop Moss, near Meathop, Lake District .

Bufo bufo (male 5-6 cm; female 7-9 cm) Common toad Generally olive-brown with a greenish hue. Poisonous warts cover the skin as a detterant to predators. The eye has a red iris and the hind feet are webbed. The hops are less pronounced and shorter than frogs. Often found up to 2 km from water in dark damp places such as beneath logs in moors, heaths, rough grassland and woodland, though breeding must occur in water. Mass migrations occur back to the breeding grounds each March. The spawn is long, stringy and gelatinous containing a double row of eggs. The tadpoles are generally lighter and larger than frogs. Image taken at Meathop Moss, near Meathop, Lake District .

Natrix natrix (male 60-70 cm; female 70-90 cm) Grass snake Usually olive-green with vertical blackish stripes at intervals along the body. The neck has black and yellow collar. Will hiss if disturbed or alarmed but is non-venomous. Can play dead if threatened. Found in a variety of habitats often close to water. Widespread and locally common in England and Wales. Mating occurs in spring and eggs are laid in July with 5-20 eggs in the nest constructed in the centre of a mound of decaying vegetation. Image taken at Garston Wood RSPB reserve, Sixpenny Handley, Wiltshire .