Surinam Toad

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The Surinam Toad, with a size of 12-20 cm, has a large triangular head, small eyes with rounded pupils, and nostrils found at the end of two narrow tubes on the snout. The body is flat, brown or olive-colored, and covered by many tubercles giving it the general appearance of a dead leaf.

The front limbs are short and weak and the hind limbs are long, strong and webbed. It is entirely aquatic living on the muddy bottom of tropical rivers, returning to the surface for air generally every half hour. They can endure however long submersion (over an hour) without surfacing for air (presumably by drawing some oxygen from the water). Like fish, they have lateral-line systems, which detect fine pressure changes in the water.

Using star-shaped tactile organs on its fingertips to detect food, the tongueless Pipa pipa lunges at its prey, consisting mostly of invertebrates, but also worms and crustaceans. The Surinam Toad breeds when water levels rise and the water temperature drops.

The males call to the females by clicking underwater. At this point, the animals become very active and quiver when they come into contact with each other. The males grab the females by the hind legs and they swim together, turning somersaults. When the pair reaches the water's surface, the female swims with her back to the surface and deposits between 60 and 100 eggs. During the process of mating the male fertilizes the eggs and then attaches them to the female's back. The skin of the female then encloses the fertilized eggs.

Larval development occurs within the egg and fully metamorphosed individuals approximately 2 cm in length emerge from incubation after 3 to 4 months. Initially the young have trouble diving and remain near the surface of the water. They can immediately begin snapping at food.

Did you know?
Reproduction in Pipa pipa includes direct development of the young; there is no larval stage. The female carries the eggs in a honeycomb structure on her back until they complete development and emerge as miniature adults. The eggs adhere only to the female's back, possibly due to a cloacal secretion. They do not stick to the male's belly clasping the female when mating, nor to other eggs already on the female's back. In the hours after fertilization, the eggs sink into the female's skin. Skin grows around the eggs, which become enclosed in a cyst with a horny lid. During development, the young grow temporary tails, which are apparently used in the uptake of oxygen. After 12-20 weeks, the young emerge as tailless flat frogs shaped like their parents, except that they are only 2 cm in length. They are, however, fully developed except for bifurcation of the lobes on the fingertips. The young usually emerge from the female's back at the time of molting, that is, when the mother sheds her skin.

Factsheet
Class	AMPHIBIA
Order	ANURA
Suborder	NEOBATRACHIA
Family	PIPIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Pipa pipa
Name (English)	Surinam Toad
Name (French)	Pipa
Name (German)	Grosse Wabenkröte
Name (Spanish)	Aparo, Rana comun de celdillas
CITES Status	Not listed
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Stan Shebs

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Habitat	Found in slow flowing watercourses, backwater of streams, and ponds and pools in tropical rainforest with muddy bottoms.
Wild population	It is not seriously threatened, but local populations are probably impacted by habitat loss and degradation due to logging, agricultural expansion, and human settlement.
Zoo population	169 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 45 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

How this animal should be kept

These aquatic Frogs are rather large and require a large aquarium. A 80 l tank would be adequate for 2 adults. However maintaining Surinam toads in any tank smaller than approximately 120 l requires an exceptionally robust filtration system and careful monitoring of water quality and especially ammonia levels. They require a totally aquatic set-up with a substrate of gravel or sand (avoid abrasive substrates such as coarse sands).

Furnishings such as large pebbles and rocks can be arranged to provide a number of hiding places. Overhanging shelters, such as shelves attached to the tank walls, are especially favored. Standing adults reach the top of a 40 l tank. The tank therefore should be securely covered. (put a rock on the lid). The water should be clean de-chlorinated or spring water at a depth of 30-45 cm.

The water will need to be filtered using a submersible power filter or external canister filter to avoid the build up of ammonia and bacteria in the water, and partial water changes should be carried out at regular intervals. They require a water temperature of 24-26 °C.