Classification
Order: anura
Family: pipidae
Subfamily: pipinae
Genus: pipa
Species: pipa pipa
Habitat
The common Suriname toad is native to South America. It can be found in Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago. These toads are aquatic, they prefer small water bodies in subtropical or tropical moist forests.
Outward appearance
An adult common Suriname toad can reach the length of 14-19 cm.
The body of the toad is almost square and is flattened. The head is wide, with small eyes and skin shreds hanging from the corners of the toad’s mouth. It has neither teeth nor tongue. The feet are webbed and have small star-like appendages at the ends. The coloration varies from gray to brown-black, the belly is light, occasionally with dark stripe. Females have cellular skin, small and completely immobile eyes and they emit a sharp and very unpleasant smell. Suriname toads have well-developed lungs and horny skin.
Character
The common Suriname toad is a completely aquatic species. They live in swamps and marshes close to the sea coast; they move on the ground very slowly and clumsily. In order to get food, they dig the soil with the help of their front feet and gets pieces of food from the water. They can also eat stationary objects.
Maintenance care
Common Suriname toads need a spacious tank, at least 100 liter one for 2 specimens, you can put fine gravel on the bottom. The tank can be decorated with real and artificial plants. You will need a powerful filter. The ideal water temperature is 26 degrees.
Feeding
In captivity common Suriname toads eat big bloodworms, earthworms, small fish.
Features
Common Suriname toads are prone to overeating and to obesity, so try not to overfeed them. Give the toad as much food as it can eat within 15 minutes.
Diseases
This is hardy and very fast healing species.
Average life span is about 10 years.
Breeding
One of the most interesting things about this species is their method of reproduction. In the rainy season, Suriname toads mate in an extended ritual during which the male grasps the female from behind. Underwater, they turn upside down and the female lays batches of 3-10 eggs onto the male’s stomach, which he then fertilizes and positions onto the soft back of the female where they adhere. After repeating the process of laying, fertilizing and positioning up to 100 eggs the male leaves and the skin on the back of the female grows over the eggs. The eggs brood through tadpole phase into fully-developed 2 cm froglets before they emerge from their little chambers 3-4 months later, bursting through the skin on the mother’s back.
