Bufo americanus breeding in nature

Bufo americanus breed for only a few days in spring (explosive breeders). Typically, males first breed when 2 years old, females when 3 years old. Because of window of opportunity is so narrow, male toads are very competitive.

Male breeding two strategies

(1) Calling to attract females

American toads produce a long (~5–50 s), trilled call (~35–45 pulses s−1) with a single spectral component (~1.7–2.0 kHz). Listen:

 

Youtube link (if you cannot see the video above)

(2) Actively searching for and clasping females

To improve its chances to mate male toad "grasps anything embraceable that moves or comes in its way" (Wright 1914).

Competition between males is usually very fierce. Sometimes they can hurt each other and female.

Youtube link (if you cannot see the video above)

Male toads have dark horny pads on first and second toes of their forelegs. This helps them close their front limbs around a female's abdomen in a posture called amplexus.

Underneath these two mating toads, you can see spiraled rope-like egg clusters. 4-12-2011

Youtube: toad mating (4/12/2011, Maryland)

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Female strategies

Females can initiate pairing by approaching calling males and touching them. It was observed that in most years, larger males had a mating advantage and females usually selected larger than average males when they initiated mating.

Overview of Bufo americanus breeding site

Youtube link (if you cannot see the video above)

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