European toads,Bufo bufo,mating. The male (top) is smaller & more slender than the female. When a male encounters a female ready to spawn he climbs onto her back. They then spend several days in the reeds & on the floor of the pond,until the female is ready to ovulate. The eggs are released as 2 long fibres which are quickly fertilised by the male's sperm. This process is repeated 10-20 times until the entire fibre is 2 m long. The egg fibres are then pulled about and entangled around plants. Once ovulation ceases the male climbs off,and the female leaves the site | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Nuridsany, Claude / Perennou, Maria |
Bildgröße: | 3300 px × 2142 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: |
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