### Identification A small, squat amphibian reaching just 5cm, the Common Midwife Toad is easily overlooked until it moves. Its skin is textured with small, rounded warts, often appearing grey, olive, or sandy-brown with subtle green or reddish flecks along the flanks. To distinguish it from the Common Toad (*Bufo bufo*), look closely at the eyes: *Alytes obstetricans* possesses distinct vertical, slit-like pupils, whereas the Common Toad’s are horizontal. Its parotoid glands (the lumps behind the eyes) are relatively small and inconspicuous compared to its larger cousins.
### Habitat & Range Primarily found across Western Europe—from the Iberian Peninsula through France to Germany—they are also well-established in localized UK populations (notably in Bedfordshire). They favor sun-warmed, stony habitats with loose soil for burrowing: dry stone walls, limestone scree, old quarries, and even well-drained gardens. Unlike most frogs, they are remarkably terrestrial, rarely visiting water except for a few minutes at a time.
### Behaviour By day, they hide in deep crevices or burrows to stay cool. At night, the landscape comes alive with their signature call: a clear, crystalline "pook... pook..." that sounds like a distant bicycle bell or a sonar ping. Their breeding strategy is unique: after fertilization, the male wraps the egg strings around his hind legs in a figure-eight pattern. He carries this precious cargo for up to six weeks, venturing out only to keep the eggs moist with dew until they are ready to hatch.
### Diet A nocturnal generalist, it stalks the shadows for beetles, woodlice, spiders, and small slugs. It uses a "sit-and-wait" strategy, lunging with a flick of its sticky tongue to snatch prey from the garden path or forest floor.
### Fascinating Fact The male is a model of amphibian devotion; a single "midwife" father may carry the clutches of up to three different females at once, looking as though he’s wearing a cumbersome pair of translucent, beaded leggings until the tadpoles are ready to swim!