Pipa Suriname - frog that lives in South America and is primarily nocturnal.It can be found in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Surinam, Brazil and Colombia.Most of his life spent in frog ponds, only occasionally appearing on the land during heavy rains, then it is very clumsy moves on a flooded rainforest.It is noteworthy that even during a severe drought, it is not out of the water, preferring to wait out the heat in small and almost dried up puddles.
Despite the fact that this amphibian rough keratinized skin and well-developed light - signs of terrestrial forms of existence, the land it does not like.This frog prefers natural ponds with muddy bottoms and turbid water.Pipa Suriname is most often found in ponds and rivers with slow current, related to the Amazon basin.Sometimes it can be seen in the irrigation ditches plantations.
Appearance
Many people do not like, and even ordinary frogs fear.But pipa Surinam different special appearance.Fans joke can say that this frog looks as if hit by an ice rink.She is really very frail.Gray or brown, almost flat body with a triangular head, staring eyes and a pair of tentacles at the mouth.Abdomen light, sometimes with a black stripe or a few white spots.The length of the adult frog can reach 20 cm.
front foot, almost without membranes with long fingers, the tips of which can be seen very delicate star-shaped appendages.Because of them, called the frog zvezdopaloy.Another interesting feature of this animal's anatomy - no tongue and teeth.Pipa Surinam usually seeks out food at the bottom, turning the front legs mud.The rear is her long and strong, their webbed toes are connected, allowing you to move the frog in the well water.It should be noted that in addition to such an ugly appearance, pipa has a sharp, very unpleasant odor reminiscent of sulfur.Nevertheless, many fans prefer to keep amphibians is an exotic animal at home in an aquarium.What caused such a desire?
Mating
Pipa Surinam - a wonderful mother and watch her kids is very interesting.Mating takes place only during the rainy season.It all begins with the marriage of dance.The male produces a metallic clicking sound, calling female.Soon she begins to throw eggs, and the male to fertilize them, and pressed by means of the chest and hind legs to the back of the female, painstakingly distributing eggs in cells.It was there that live and grow small Pipa for two and a half months.
cells themselves deep - about 1.5 cm, and the size of the eggs - up to 7 mm.Partitions in the cells contain a large number of blood vessels.The protruding portion of each egg is covered with a dense stratum corneum.Mating can last for hours, and then the male sees his mission accomplished and leaves.Tadpoles for 11-12 weeks will be in a "kindergarten" where everything is provided - protection, nutrition and the perfect temperature.
Reproduction
Suriname pipa, reproduction is much different from other frogs spawning may defer more than 100 eggs and then all of them wear a about 85 days.The total weight of the laying of approximately 385 grams.
for the frog is a pretty big figure.Upon expiration, fully formed young pipa leave their cell.The remains of the frog skin removes.For this, she rubs her back on the plants or rocks.Shortly after shedding new skin appears.
Homemade content
To make this wonder of nature at home, you need to carefully prepare.For this frog aquarium needs of not less than 100 liters, but it is better to buy 200-300 liters.The next step - the choice of filter.The water in the tank should be warm (about 26 degrees) and well aerated.
At the bottom, you can pour the gravel, and the aquarium to decorate the living or artificial seaweed.Feed Surinamese Pip simple.For this purpose, perfect bloodworms, earthworms and small fish.Fans who want to breed these unusual animals, be aware that puberty these frogs comes at the age of 6 years.
Conclusion
once, the first time he saw how unusual take care of their offspring Suriname pipa, Zakhoder Boris wrote a beautiful poem dedicated to her maternal feelings.So the frog became famous.
Many admire maternal instincts of a cat or dog, but nature is not only their excellent awarded parental qualities.And let the male Surinamese pipa do not care for their offspring, like a frog-phyllobates, for example, the female one copes, providing their children with all the necessities.
At the end I want to note, no matter what kind of mom or was - beautiful or ugly, for their children, it is still the most wonderful and beloved.
