Mating time

With the first Autumn rains, the mating season begins for many Iberian amphibian species, unlike in Central Europe, where Spring is the preferred season. In much of the Iberian Peninsula, the comparatively mild weather, with rainy nights, motivates species of tree frogs, toads, and newts to migrate to wetlands. It is not uncommon for these to be biological pools, where the population gathers and, in the case of frogs, the croaking begins.

It is always the males who use their voices, demarcating territories and displaying their vitality with a strong voice. Sometimes, they manage to deceive other males (the competitors) and females when the croaker takes shelter in a small cave formed by stones. In this case, his voice is reinforced by the echo. The intention to offer more than they can fulfill is a pre-nuptial “vice” also seen among amphibians.