The common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) is a midwife frog found in various countries in north west Europe, including Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The male carries the eggs on his back until they hatch. This species prefers habitats such as temperate forests, rivers, and urban areas but is threatened by habitat loss.
Reaching about 5.5 cm in length, the toad is broad with a large head and vertical pupils. Its skin is mostly smooth, often grey, olive, or brown, with varying patterns. It typically lives near water, is active at dusk and night, and hibernates during winter.
During reproduction in spring and summer, females choose larger males. The male stimulates the female to lay eggs in jelly strings, which he wraps around his limbs, caring for them until they hatch in 3 to 8 weeks. The eggs develop into tadpoles, which eventually undergo metamorphosis into juvenile toads. Common midwife toads primarily feed on insects and other small arthropods.
