Unique Mating And Breeding Behavior...

The Surinam toad (Pipa pipa) is a species of frog within the family Pipidae. This species is endemic to the Amazon regions of South America. The appearance of the Surinam toad is quite unusual; however it is still a beauty. The toad´s typical size is about 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in), though sizes of close to 20 cm (8 in) have been recorded. The toad can easily be confused by a leaf as it is almost completely flat and rectangular in shape. It´s mottled body has a darkish gray-brown to black color (this creature has a great camouflage!).

The Surinam toads are renowned because of their unique mating and breeding behavior. The males of this species have no vocal cords or sacs; thus they produce a sharp clicking sound by snapping the hyoid bone in their throat. During an extraordinary mating dance, the female will lay about 60 to 100 eggs and the male´s sperm will fertilize them, upon which the male will then spread the eggs onto the female's back by the male´s movements. The eggs adhere and sink into the sponge-like dorsal skin. Within a period of several days, the female's back begins to swell around the eggs, eventually taking on the appearance of an uneven "honeycomb" on the female's back. The larvae develop through the tadpole stage inside these pockets, and after some time emerging from the mother's back as fully developed toads. Once they have emerged from their mother's back, the toads begin a solitary life.

Images: Wikipedia and Honolulu Zoo