Midwife toad is the name of certain small frogs of central and southwestern Europe. Midwife toads are also called obstetrical toads. They received their name because the male helps care for the eggs. Adult midwife toads are about 2 inches (5 centimeters) long. The female lays from 20 to 60 eggs in two strings. The male fastens them to his legs and carries them until they hatch. He usually hides on land beneath a stone or underground while he carries the eggs. He comes out after dark and bathes the eggs in a pond or stream. After three weeks, he takes the eggs into the water, and tadpoles hatch from them.
See also Surinam toad.
