Moveable Nurseries
Part of the Frogs: A Chorus of Colors exhibition.
Part of the Frogs: A Chorus of Colors exhibition.
Marsupial frogs protect their babies on the go. The male catches the eggs as the female lays them and deposits them into a special pouch on the female's back. He fertilizes the eggs in the pouch. By incubating the eggs on her back, the female is able to protect them from predators and give her babies an important head start in life. When the tadpoles hatch the female drops them into water and they begin life on their own.
Gastrotheca riobambae
Class: Amphibia
Family: Ranidae
Size: Up to 2 1/2 inches
Food: Insects
Range: Western slopes of the Andes Mountains in South America
Habitat: Mountain slopes and adjoining valleys
Life Cycle: Females incubate eggs in a specialized pouch.