Most female frogs, unlike humans, are larger than the males. They slowly approach the pond in a crawling motion, hoping not to attract too much attention. But once they are noticed, then several males may clasp her at the same time, wrestling for an advantageous position until one locks himself into the mating position astride her back, clamping his arms and legs around her stomach. This embrace is called amplexus. Amplexus can last several days! On occasion, two or three males will cling to a single female, waiting for her to find a suitable spot for egg laying before they all attempt to fertilize the eggs. If the female doesn't lay eggs on the first night, she will sleep with the male on her back until the following evening. Maybe you've seen them in this piggyback position.

In most cases this complicated courting behavior occurs, but many species of frogs are known for attempting to mate with anything that moves which isn't small enough to eat!

Next comes egg laying. Most species of frogs lay their eggs directly in water, often in our ponds, or even near-by roadside ditches. The female frogs must fill her bladder after laying each batch of eggs or their eggs will dry up.

While in the amplexus position, the male frog fertilizes the eggs as they get laid. Frogs tend to lay single eggs in masses, whereas toads usually lay eggs in long chains. Frogs and toads tend to lay many many eggs because there are many hazards between fertilization and full grown frogness! Some frogs leave after the eggs are laid, but others stick around to watch over the little ones. Some have very unusual ways of caring for their young. But that would be another whole article!

At Dorota's Life Cycle of a Frog site, you can find out more than you perhaps have ever wanted to know about frog sex! Other information for this article was gleaned at the Discovery Channel's great site Froggy Went A-Courtin'!