# @rspb on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CMu9CLSgPsG
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/34270912-rspb-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/089c666218.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-03-22T20:00:37.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** RSPB (@rspb) — https://gondola.cc/rspb

## Caption

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

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 2,666
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 30

## Tags

conservation, toads, uknaturecollective, ukwildlife, commontoad, amphibians

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