# Common Midwife Toad (*Alytes obstetricans*) The Common Midwife Toad is a small, unique toad that carries its eggs on its back! They love to live near water and are great at hopping around. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Midwife Toad ![Common Midwife Toad](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426866/objects/3337.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Midwife Toad is a small, stout amphibian with rough, warty skin that ranges in color from greyish-brown to olive green, often marked with darker spots. It has large, prominent eyes with golden irises and striking vertical pupils, making it visually distinct from many other toads. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Alytidae - **Genus:** Alytes ## Interesting facts - Its whistle-like call is so clear, it sounds like a tiny flute! - Midwife toad tadpoles can take over a year to grow up! - They spend most of their day hiding in burrows they dig themselves. - Unlike most frogs, they dislike big ponds and prefer damp soil. ## Special abilities - **Dedicated Dad:** Common Midwife Toad has the male carry eggs on his hind legs because this protects them from predators and drying out. - **Night Vision Ninja:** Common Midwife Toad has vertical pupils that help them see better in low light, making them excellent nocturnal hunters. - **Defense Goo:** Common Midwife Toad can secrete a mild toxin from its skin because it deters predators from trying to eat them. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 3.5-5.5 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-9 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 20-70 - **Metamorphosis:** 150-400 days ## Diet & Feeding This toad mostly munches on small creepy-crawlies it finds while hopping around at night. - **Age differences:** Tadpoles are herbivorous, feeding on algae and plant matter, while adults are strictly insectivorous. - **Primary Foods:** ants, spiders, beetles, slugs, woodlice, earwigs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — A common meal for the toad. - **Eats:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) — Captures these small arthropods. - **Eaten by:** [Grass Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grass-snake) (*Natrix natrix*) — A primary predator in its habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Carrion Crow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carrion-crow) (*Corvus corone*) — Birds can snatch them from land. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch toads from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Midwife Toad? Check the toe pads, leg length, eye markings, back pattern and body shape. Don't lean on color: some frogs change shade to match their surroundings. Frog Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Common Midwife Toad? 3.5-5.5 cm ### How much does Common Midwife Toad weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Common Midwife Toad live? 5-9 years ### How fast can Common Midwife Toad move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Common Midwife Toad eat? This toad mostly munches on small creepy-crawlies it finds while hopping around at night. ### Where is Common Midwife Toad usually found? Wetlands ### How does Common Midwife Toad hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parque-de-la-naturaleza-de-cab-rceno) — Spain, ES · Zoo - [CarlAlexanderPark (Baesweiler)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carlalexanderpark-baesweiler) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park - [Geo-Naturpark Frau-Holle-Land](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/geo-naturpark-frau-holle-land) — Hessen, DE · Park - [Picos de Europa National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/picos-de-europa-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park [View all places to see Common Midwife Toad](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-midwife-toad) ## Watch - [Play video: Common Midwife Toad](https://www.snappit.app/videos/common-midwife-toad) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=aYnlWOo5lJs) ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Common Midwife Toad: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-midwife-toad)