Toads are common in my pond. The males [smaller in size] in their heat grasp the female [larger] so tight that the female suffocates and dies and they may not know it. They continue to float like this for a long time. This happens during the egg-laying programme. Notice one toad in the first picture with reddish back - it has more toxins in its skin than the others. In the second picture you can see the bloated female's belly. I was in discussion with a friend a few years ago about why this happens. The explanation in brief was like this: One of the characteristics of the toads seems to be that males stay close to water waiting for females who eventually respond to their calls. When the female moves in closer the males rush her and if enough are there will form a 'ball' around her often resulting in the female being drowned. Because of them producing so many eggs, having so many females drowning helps keep the population down.
I know it's a natural thing but ... gross!! I have one toad who comes out of hiding once in a while but no frogs.
I'm with Toni in that the image made me a little squeamish, but it's very interesting behaviour all the same. Do you remember what happened to the female on this particular occasion Dinu?
Yes, I too do not like this, but it is Nature's way. The females was dead. I removed the entire ball of toad with a fish-net and dropped it outside the compound [the others would eventually come in anyway]. one jumped in to the water while all the rest clung like that as I lifted them. The dead one will be eaten by a crow.
I just noticed you mentioned 'bloated' in your original post - that should have answered my question. Thanks for the interesting shots Dinu I have a friend who is extremely creeped out by frogs/toads, I better make sure she never sees this thread
Our frogs and toads do exactly the same thing Dinu. It's not the first time I've had to remove dead females from my pond. Thankfully each year the numbers of each species seem to be on the increase. We gardeners love them as they eat lots of pests.
Yes, Frank. I did mention that word in the first instance and I did not want to point it out when you asked. I'm so glad you probably re-read that description. Yes, some people get freaked out at the sight of lizards and me, cockroaches. But I've some method to tackle them. Also, I was worried about the tadpole population and my friend came up with the answer that relieved me 5-6 years ago saying not all will survive. Indeed, the toads do control the pest population. I'm attaching a few photos here. See one male toad how it looks when it croaks! Another toad has caught a winged ant that had come out of the nest as they do after rains in the season. Since ours is an old house with a high roof, tiled, bats continue to live. Sometimes, they fly indoor by mistake and that rattles my daughters, even though grown up! They get creeped out and run out and call the bat-attacker - that is me! Frank, show this lizard photo to your friend.... she may like it! A small bat that had come in. It was a pillow cover in the shot. A lovely Gecko on the window's wall. Winged ant becomes a snack to a toad... always they come out in the evening.
We have Geckos too, I love to watch them getting larger and larger and the unwanted bug population get smaller and smaller. There are bats in our neighborhood that I see flapping around at night sometimes, I like to see them here too.
I have always had a thing for toads & frogs...toads in particular (this is a positive thing..ie I like them). It seems so sad that the poor female drowns! But as you say, all part of nature.
This is very interesting, Dinu, though I feel sorry for the female frog, I realize that Mother Nature isn't aways kind.
