amplexus

[ am-plek-suhs ]

noun

, plural am·plex·us·es, am·plex·us.

1. the clasping posture of fertilization in frogs and toads.

Word History and Origins

Origin of amplexus¹

1925–30; < New Latin, Latin: embrace, equivalent to amplect ( ī ) to embrace ( am-, variant of ambi- ambi- + plectī, deponent of plectere to plait, twine; complex, plexus ) + -tus suffix of v. action

Example Sentences

The Animal Behaviour category was won by Ian Mason with this picture titled Three Frogs in Amplexus.

From BBC

All the logic and desire that guides a female frog to a specific pond vanishes once she arrives, and a melee ensues as males race to cling to her in a tight embrace called amplexus.

From New York Times

About midnight, the few remaining fix to leave, but stay to ogle when someone spots a wood frog amplexus — a pre-fertilization embrace.

From Washington Post

To mate, frogs embrace in a position called amplexus: The male frog clings to the female until he can fertilize her eggs as she lays them.

From New York Times

Romeo is giving up his worm meals for Juliet and trying his best to perfect amplexus.

From New York Times