image credit: naturephoto-cz.com
image credit: Job©
image credit: Job©
image credit: Job©
image credit: jp vacher
image credit: sabine-deschandol.com
image credit: Dave Daversa, picasaweb.google.comStatus: Least Concern
That dopey grin on that Common Midwife Toad’s face is due to pure exhaustion. You see, it is the males job to take care of the eggs in this relationship. The female lays a strand of eggs, which the male then fertilizes externally. He proceeds to wrap the eggs around his legs to protect them from predators in the water. When they are ready to hatch, the male wades into shallow water, and the cute little tadpoles leap out of their eggs!
Not so cute, however, is the fact that the back of the Common Midwife Toad is covered in small warts. These gross things give off a strong smelling poison when the toad is handled or attacked. The poison is so powerful that the toad has few enemies or predators. Needless to say, the eggs are kept pretty safe.
Unfortunately, the tadpoles lack these helpful warts and so are easy targets for predators.
** Please don’t forget to send in your photos for this week’s competition! Monday is the last day to get them in!**
