Spawning
Spawning is a part of the reproductive stage of a frog’s life; this stage is right after courtship and it is where the frogs fertilize the eggs that are about to be laid. Spawning usually takes place within the water; female frogs release the eggs directly to the water and the male frog releases sperm as close to the eggs to fertilize them (Cleave, 1999). The nuptial pads are helpful in the position called amplexus, which occurs during spawning. This is the position where the male frog is on the female frog’s back and fertilizes the eggs as the female frog lays them, this position could be held for minutes up to several hours (Cleave, 1999). Eggs are then moved to either a shady or a shallow spot that provides higher temperature water to speed the development process. In a few species of frogs, they might protect the eggs in a nest of mucus like foam, which also helps provide protection from sudden temperature changes (Cleave, 1999).
The Stages
All the pictures from above come from: Kidzone Metamorphosis: The Life Cycle of a Frog