Female common frogs were observed "playing dead" in an attempt to ward off unwanted male advances during mating season. (Credit: Dr. Carolin Dittrich) ...

Female common frogs were observed "playing dead" in an attempt to ward off unwanted male advances during mating season. (Credit: Dr. Carolin Dittrich) ...

Female European common frogs employ a few different tactics to avoid mating, including rotating their bodies, using a call that’s similar to that of males, and engaging in "tonic immobility ...

Of the 54 female frogs that were embraced by a male as part of the mating process, 83 per cent rotated away, making it the most common escape tactic. Many used more than one technique.

European common frogs (Rana temporaria) are "explosive breeders" with males sometimes creating a mating ball with several males all attempting to mount one female. (Image credit: Anne Coatesy ...

Common toads, with their heavy-set bodies and short limbs, are regarded as typical terrestrial amphibians. “There is no shortage of papers on common toads; they are a very well-studied species ...

Stubbier than frogs, with shorter legs, toads crawl to breeding ponds, which can be up to 5km away. Their destination is typically a familiar one. One study found that over 80% of adults that survived ...

Common Toads migrate along the same routes each year, with males piggybacking on females Rachel Candlin BBC News, West of England ...

Charlcombe Lane near Bath, Somerset, will be shut until March 25 as volunteers go out on patrol each night at dusk to help common toads, common frogs and newts on their journey.

Female common frogs were observed "playing dead" in an attempt to ward off unwanted male advances during mating season. (Credit: Dr. Carolin Dittrich) ...