While walking through the beautiful gardens of Valsanzibio last weekend we came across toads. Lots of beautiful toads.  These toads were not simply hopping around as toads do or even diving or swimming in the fish ponds. The bigger toads were transporting the smaller toads on their back in the direction of the fish ponds. 

Initially, I thought the toad must be an offspring maybe from the year before. I know toads hibernate and there certainly was a lot of vegetation and wildflowers for them to find peace and quiet to overwinter. 

The weekend we visited was the first weekend the gardens opened and though there were very few people, it must have seemed like an invasion to the sleeping toads. Maybe we had disturbed them into waking and trekking towards the water.

At the water's edge they would dive in the smaller toads holding on tight. They looked like little jockeys perched heroically as their steads jumped into the water.

We kept seeing them throughout the day; the bigger toad carrying the smaller one often over long distances. The smaller toad certainly looked big enough to make the way itself. Maybe the Mother was so devoted she wanted to be perfectly sure they arrived in the same pond.  Surely only a Mother would be so dedicated to another which could surely walk ? But toad eggs produce lots of tadpoles, how did she chose only one lucky son or daughter ? How did she even know it was her own ? There are so many tadpoles in the water during hatching season.

Well maybe I should have saved this post for April Fool's Day ? I certainly had been fooled.

These toads are not carrying their offspring on their back, they are carrying the soon to be father of their offspring.

The female common toad (or European toad) carries the male to the water where she releases her eggs; up to 10,000 at a time, in a glutenous string up to 16ft (7m) long (1).  The male fertilizes them by covering them with his sperm as they exit, This is technically called 'amplexus'.  Fertile eggs usually hatch within a couple of weeks and gradually change completely into toads over two to three months. Common toads can live up to around ten to twelve years, males attain sexual maturity in three to four years; females in four to five years. They usually start breeding in February or March which would be correct as we spotted them the last week of February. The breeding period lasts from a week to a month. (2)

How does the female chose it's male jockey ? Well it seems not to be the female's choice the toads chance upon the female on her way to the water (or in the water) and jump onto her back. If a male happens to accidentally jump onto a male they will make a noise like a chirp, the louder the chirp the more dominant the male, the same happens if two or more males climb onto a female, chirping will occur and sometimes kicking and fighting to claim the position.

Not the happy Mother and son heading to the picnic area as I had originally thought - but never-the-less a great story.  Nature is amazing.

How can you help toads ?

• Have a pond in your garden - 33% of ponds have disappeared in the UK

• Keep rocks, moss, and piles of leaves/sticks in your garden for toads to overwinter.

• Compost (this provides natural food for toads)

• Do not use pesticides or slug pellets

• Drive vigilantly.  Toads can travel up to 3 miles (5km) back to their ancestral pond to breed, this is their most dangerous time.

Sources and thanks:

(1) https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/european-toad-breeding/#:~:text=Males%20attain%20sexual%20maturity%20in,breed%20in%20April%20or%20May.

(2) https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/other-garden-wildlife/amphibians-and-reptiles/common-toad/

To the Tabors for their wisdom.

If you wish to go find more science to the toad piggy backing - read https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/male-frogs-grip-mates-with-pheromone-injecting-thumb-spikes .