The most bizarre animal on this planet is the Surinam toad (Surinam toad). The beast has no teeth, no tongue, no eyes and no nose, but it does have a huge mouth. In addition, the eggs are located in a kind of warts on the back, which leave deep holes once they are hatched. The Surinamese toad is often used in laboratories for genetic studies.
Appearance
With its hideous appearance, the Surinamese toad (also called pipa) has little chance of ever winning a beauty contest. Even by toad standards, the beast is decidedly ugly and bizarre. The 20 centimeter long body is so flat that it looks like a car has run over it. The square body and triangular head are warty and gray to brown in color. Yet it is mainly the head that appeals to the imagination. The face is virtually non-existent: no nose, no tongue, no teeth, and almost invisible eyes. Just a huge mouth and loose patches of skin on the jaws.
Species and habitat
The Surinamese toad belongs to the family of the tongueless frogs (pipidae) that you can find in Africa as well as in South America. Within this species you have the clawed frogs (dactylethrinae) as well as the Surinamese toads (pipinae). The Surinamese toad can be distinguished from other tongueless frogs because it has star-shaped tactile senses (sensory organs) at the end of the long toes. They mainly live in the rivers of Suriname, but also in other places in the north and center of South America.
Behaviour
Surinamese toads are real nocturnal animals. This means that they are mainly active at night and that they hide between water plants and stones during the day. By the way, did you know that despite their large powerful hind legs, they can barely walk or jump? Therefore, they will never get out of the water. Their physique is adapted to life in the river; the toes are webbed and the body is often completely flat, allowing them to float easily.
Nutrition
Do you think it’s easy eating without a tongue and without teeth? Not so. Often the toads have to push their prey in with their fingers. This makes it appear as if the animal is eating “with its hands”. Surinamese toads love fish, worms, insects and larvae. These are often searched by touch. When a fish swims against the very sensitive tactile senses on its legs, the almost blind frog takes a quick bite.
Reproduction
Reproduction is another reason why the Surinamese toad can be counted among the most bizarre of the animal species. After the female has laid eggs, they are pushed by the male into the enlarged pores on her back. The skin then grows over the 100 to 300 eggs and after five to six months, equally ugly frogs come out. As a result of this method of reproduction, the females have very large holes in the back for a while that make the toad extra sensitive to parasites and predators. These holes will be used by the little ones as shelter for a while, until they are big enough to fend for themselves.