The following pair of Eastern American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) is shown in amplexus, in which the male (top) holds onto the female (bottom): the female lays eggs in the water; the male fertilizes the eggs, externally from the female.
Notice the black-and-white strings of toad eggs in the water.
The eggs are laid in long spiral gelatinous strings and each egg is 1/25 to 1/16 inch in diameter. The eggs, 4000 to 8000 in number, are laid in two strings, and hatch in 3 to 12 days. Source Credit: eastern American toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus), Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
This pair of mating toads was spotted in a large vernal pool during a photowalk along the Hike-Bike Trail at Huntley Meadows Park on 12 April 2014.
Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 in a five-part series of posts featuring two types of toads commonly seen at Huntley Meadows Park: Eastern American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus); and Fowler’s Toads (Anaxyrus fowleri).
Related Resources:
- Toad-ally in love! (Part 1)
- Toad-ally in love! (Part 3)
- Toad-ally in love! (Part 4)
- Toad-ally in love! (Part 5)
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: adult female, adult male, amplexus, Anaxyrus americanus, Eastern American Toad, Hike-Bike Trail, Huntley Meadows Park, mating pair, vernal pool, wetlands, wildlife photography
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