Amphibians · Anura · Alytidae

Midwife Toad

Alytes obstetricans

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Its name comes from the extraordinary breeding behaviour of the male, who winds the strings of fertilised eggs around his hind legs and carries them about for weeks.

Size

3.5 cm – 5.5 cm

Lifespan

5 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestFreshwaterInsectivore Nocturnal Solitary Amphibian Temperate forest Freshwater

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Fun facts

The male keeps the eggs from drying out and away from predators until they are ready to hatch in water.
It eats insects and other small invertebrates.
It lives in woodland, Mediterranean scrub and rocky ground near ponds and streams in western Europe.
reproducciónThe male carries the strings of fertilised eggs wound around his hind legs until the larvae are ready to hatch in water.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (amphibian)
Habitat & environment: Woodland, Mediterranean scrub and rocky ground near ponds and streams in western Europe
Birth weight: Hatches as a tadpole from an egg carried by the male
Size at birth: Male up to 42 mm | Female up to 50 mm of body length
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years
Gestation / incubation: 3-6 weeks with the male carrying the eggs before they hatch
Litter / clutch size: Dozens of eggs per clutch, carried wound around the male's hind legs

Sources consulted: ResearchGate (lifespan discussion); Animal Diversity Web; Wikipedia (Common midwife toad); Animalia.bio; iNaturalist; Grokipedia (Midwife toad); Britannica; Gonefroggin.com