Why Male Harlequin Toads Piggyback on Their Partners for Six Months Straight (7 Photos)
Men who freeload off their significant others rarely earn much respect. But in the animal kingdom, the rules are different. Male harlequin toads, belonging to the genus *Atelopus*, literally piggyback on females, but they hardly deserve our judgment. In fact, if they didn't behave this way, these exotic amphibians might have gone extinct long ago. 
Named for their striking, vibrant colors, harlequin toads inhabit Central and South America. Their vast range spans Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Bolivia. But if you ever spot one in the wild, count yourself extremely lucky. Around 60 species of *Atelopus* are threatened with extinction, and one species—the spotted harlequin toad—may already be gone forever. 
Harlequin toads make their home in humid mountain forests, with zoologists occasionally spotting them at elevations of up to 14,700 feet (4,500 meters). Despite their vivid hues, these timid amphibians lead secretive lives. Even their call sets them apart from other tropical toads: instead of loud, ringing trills, they produce a faint chirping sound that only their fellow toads can pick out above the jungle noise. 
Several species of these toads are deadly. Skin glands secrete tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin also found in the famous pufferfish. Yet neither their stealth nor their deadly poison has been enough to save them. Human deforestation in these mountain forests triggers shifts in local humidity levels that prove disastrous for the toads. 
Things have gotten so dire that a male toad can easily spend his entire life alone without ever encountering a mate. Such a critical drop in population could spell doom for creatures ill-suited for long-distance travel. Yet, nature found a bizarre way to ensure their survival. 
Hitching a Ride on the Bride
When a male harlequin toad finally encounters a female, he doesn't rely on charm. He simply leaps onto her back and grips her tightly with his legs. From that moment on, the two are inseparable: the female dutifully carries her suitor around while he bides his time, waiting for the perfect moment to mate. It is a true test of patience—he might end up clinging on for up to six months before she is ready. 
Interestingly, the female goes about her business casually, as if carrying an extra passenger is no big deal. The prospective groom, however, has it much worse. Unable to hunt properly, he has to scrape by on whatever stray gnats and beetles happen to land right near his mouth. Over the course of this romantic marathon, a male can lose up to a third of his body weight—and in some extreme cases, even starve to death. 
All of this effort just to fertilize between 300 and 900 tiny eggs, which the female eventually lays in a shallow pool. Most of the tadpoles that hatch won't survive their first 24 hours. Only a lucky few will reach adulthood—and just like their parents, they will have to rely on a stroke of luck and a relentless tight embrace.
