It's a beautiful spring evening, time for some romance! 💙 Our friends common toads, or Bufo bufo, aren't shy about PDAs, and at this time of year you can often see them entwined in what looks like an innocent hug - but we're afraid it's not. You see, when a mummy toad and a daddy toad... well, you get the idea. In early spring, common toads head off to their breeding ponds find a mate and reproduce. Males clasp on to the backs of females in a behaviour known as *amplexus* to fertilise their (up to 5000!) eggs. Sometimes, other males will try to dislodge the toad in amplexus, forming... toad balls. (Just Google it, honestly.) Tadpoles hatch 10-14 days later, and take 8-12 weeks to develop into toadlets. Common toads can live up to 12 years! So next time you see what looks like a lovely toad hug, just look the other way - everyone deserves a little privacy. #toads #amphibians #uknaturecollective #ukwildlife #conservation #commontoad