Nuptial pads are dark, thick patches on the forelegs of male frogs. These patches are used to grasp on the female during the mating embrace called amplexus. There are basically two kinds of amplexus, inguinal or lumbar (male wraps his forelegs around the female's waist) and axilary (the male wraps his forelegs around the female's armpits). Most toads engage in axilary amplexus.