Common toad

The common toad has a deadly enemy called the toadfly. In summer, it lays its eggs on the toad’s skin (back or head). Upon hatching, the larvae of the parasitic fly crawl into the toad’s nostrils and eat its flesh from within. If the toad notices the deposited eggs, it will shed it skin, which it will then eat – fly eggs and all.

During the mating season, the males try to impress the females by their size and posture. They sit bolt upright in order to spot the females from afar. When a female common toad approaches, the male mounts and clasps her in a special grip known as amplexus. The female then carries the male piggyback to the pond, where they spawn.

To protect against predators, the tadpoles swarm together in schools. This gives them the appearance of a large species, causing the enemy to flee.