Amplexus:
Amplexus (Latin “embrace”) is a type of mating behavior exhibited by some externally fertilizing species (chiefly amphibians and horseshoe crabs) in which a male grasps a female with his front legs as part of the mating process, and at the same time or with some time delay, he fertilizes the eggs, as they are released from the female’s body.[1] In amphibians, females may be grasped by the head, waist, or armpits, and the type of amplexus is characteristic of some taxonomic groups. [Wikipedia]
Noted in “Male toad clings to female for 5 months waiting for chance to mate,” Luke Taylor, NewScientist (23 April 2022, paywall):
A species of endangered toad endemic to Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains is clinging on for dear life. The tiny Santa Marta harlequin toad (Atelopus laetissimus), which is just 4 centimetres long, can cling to the back of a female for five months without feeding until the pair are ready to mate.
The grasping behaviour, which is known as “amplexus”, is seen in many other animal species – but rarely continues for such a long period of time, says Luis Alberto Rueda-Solano at the University of Magdalena, Colombia. In some cases, it can even prove fatal. But finding a female early in the breeding season and holding on for the long haul comes with big reproductive benefits, he adds.
I guess the couple get to know each other really well?
