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The Secret Life of Toads: Do you know what middle-class toads do at night?
In the quiet European countryside, as the sun sets and the moonlight soothes the earth, middle-class toads (Alytes obstetricans) begin their nightly adventures. The toads are known for their unique method of reproduction, with males carrying egg masses on their backs in an amazing display of parent-child bonding. This peculiar behavior has aroused great interest among people, and we can't help but wonder: What kind of life do they have at night?
Distribution and habitat
Middle-class toads are mainly found in several countries in northwestern Europe, including France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland. These toads usually live in sunny locations such as high slopes, farmlands and gardens, and their favorite habitat is near water sources. The toads hide in shaded areas during the day, such as bushes, tree crevices or under rocks, and are active at night, which allows them to forage and reproduce in relative safety.
Appearance Features
Middle-class toads are usually plump and about 5.5 cm long. Female toads are generally larger than males. They have large, protruding eyes and smooth skin, dotted with small bumps and thick warts. These toads come in a variety of colors, from gray to olive and brown, often with small green or brown spots, making them more invisible in their habitat.
"These toads are not only beautiful creatures, they are also important members of the ecosystem."
Reproductive Behavior
During the spring and summer, these toads become active in their breeding behavior. The male toad attracts the female for mating and uses his forelimbs to stimulate the female's reproductive organs, causing her to expel her egg mass. After mating, the male toad carefully wraps the egg mass around his hind legs until they hatch.
The female toad can lay about 150 eggs at a time. The male toad will look after the eggs in water or a humid environment, keeping them moist and carefully placing them in a safe shallow area when the eggs are about to hatch. This care of the eggs covers their entire life cycle until the birth of the baby toads.
"In some cases, the eggs may hatch in shallow water in the pots, demonstrating their adaptability."
Eating habits
The diet of middle-class toads consists mainly of insects and other arthropods, which allows them to play a predator role in the ecosystem and help control insect populations. In contrast, they also consume carrion, which allows them to be flexible in the food chain and respond to different environmental conditions.
Ecological and Conservation Challenges
Despite their important ecological roles in nature, middle-class toads face threats such as habitat loss. Due to urbanization and agricultural expansion, many living spaces have been destroyed, which directly affects the survival of toads. Therefore, protecting its habitat has become a major focus of current ecological protection work.
The connection between science and history
In addition, middle-class toads have also played an important role in the history of science. The book "The Case of the Toad" published by the famous author Arthur Koestler in 1971 explored Paul Kammer's experiment and made people rethink the development of biology and the changes in scientific paradigms. This not only brought toads into scientific literature, but also triggered profound academic discussions.
Conclusion
The mysterious life of the middle-class toad active at night not only shows the vitality of nature, but also reflects the deep connection between humans and nature. These tiny creatures play an integral role in our ecosystem through their unique breeding and eating habits. This got us wondering, what other creatures have secret lives at night?
