Pipa (frog)

Suriname toads are members of the frog genus Pipa, within the family Pipidae. They are native to northern South America and extreme southern Central America. Like other pipids, these frogs are almost exclusively aquatic.

Species

There are seven recognized species:Pipa arrabali Izecksohn, 1976 – Arrabal's Surinam toadPipa aspera Müller, 1924 – Albina Surinam toadPipa carvalhoi – Carvalho's Surinam toadPipa myersi Trueb, 1984 – Myers' Surinam toadPipa parva Ruthven and Gaige, 1923 – Sabana Surinam toadPipa pipa – Surinam toadPipa snethlageae Müller, 1914 – Utinga Surinam toad
In addition, Pipa verrucosa Wiegmann, 1832 is included here incertae sedis.

Ecology and behavior

Life cycle

During reproduction the female Pipa frog will rise to the surface of the water with the male and after a series of movements the male fertilizes the eggs of the female. The male then places the eggs on the females back with its feet. The female Pipa frog will then incubate the eggs in the dorsal. The tadpoles then develop in the dorsal of the female.