Asian Common Toad' Imperial Life

As we reach the breeding season for the Asian Common Toad, every now and then the Toads can be caught “doing the do” in the Eco-pond of our centre's garden.

Reproducing is a milestone in life, yet sometimes embarrassment ensues in such important moments.

Usually, amplexus (Latin, meaning the mating behaviours of frogs) goes as follows: the male uses his calls to attract females, then launches himself on the back of the female, clasping her from above. The average female has a larger body, aiding her in moving to a suitable breeding location while carrying the male. The process ends as the male massages the female’s abdomen, stimulating the release of eggs.

Our Centre’s intern went on a night walk on Lung Fu Shan last week, hearing unusual calls of the Asian Common Toad in Pik Shan Path. As they moved closer to inspect the scene, they witnessed something hugely peculiar, captured in the video below…

The ‘horny’ toad in the video, desperate to reproduce, gave it his all to pounce on another pair of toads! The toad in the middle of the ‘toad sandwich’ was about to mate with the female toad at the bottom. Yet as the amplexus was interrupted, he was forced to move to near the female’s head in his haste of chasing away the toad who landed on him… The simple amplexus descended into chaos. The interrupted male desperately struggled and made release calls, warning the horny toad to release his hold.

In the breeding season, especially towards its end, all toads are haring around in search of partners to procreate with. Scenes like the one captured in the video are far from a rare occurrence.

Asian Common Toad

From left

1-2: In the breeding season, the Eco-pond is full of Asian Common Toads, searching for mates all day long. What a scene! The male toad must hold the female from behind for amplexus to be successful

3: Another failed mating situation

(top) Brown Wood Frog

(bottom) Asian Common Toad

A Brown Wood Frog attempting to mate an Asian Common Toad

As some amphibians cannot visually determine sex, it is easy for them to mistakenly assume any animals that come close in their breeding seasons as having an intention to mate, hence resulting in accidentally mating a different species.

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In normal circumstances, the calls made by an Asian Common Toad in search of mates.