Surinam toads breed at Chester Zoo for first time
They've been named after characters in the Alien films
A species of toad, which carries its babies beneath the skin of the female's back, have bred at Chester Zoo for the first time!
The Surinam Toads are native to South America and are famous for their distinctive reproductive process.
The four toads bred at Chester Zoo have been named Ripley, Lambert, Ash and Dallas after characters from the Alien films, with keepers saying they're a nod to the species' unusual breeding strategy.
When the eggs are laid, the pair perform a backflip which flicks them onto the female’s back. The male then presses the eggs into her skin.
The new toads are now living in a new, specially-created, habitat in the zoo's tropical realm.
Adam Bland, Assistant Team Manager for Amphibians at Chester Zoo, said:
"After implantation, the skin grows around these little white blobs in just a few hours. It’s a really quick process. The tadpoles form under her skin until they’re ready, and then they burst free and swim out from holes in her back.
"It’s incredible to watch how this unique strategy has evolved in these toads."
The keepers hope this part of the life cycle will capture the imaginations of visitors.
Pictures of the egg-carrying have been linked to trypophobia, with some people reacting with strong disgust or anxiety to seeing the clusters of eggs and holes in their skin.
However, much of the time, keepers say the toads should be fine to view at the zoo, as the eggs are only visible for a short period.
Surinam toads spend their entire lives underwater and have flattened bodies that help them blend into leaf litter on riverbeds.
They have also evolved star-shaped sensory structures on their fingers, which they use to detect movement and locate prey in muddy water.
Despite investing heavily in raising their young until hatching, the adults can pose a risk once the tadpoles emerge.
Mr Bland said:
"They’re extremely greedy and will eat almost anything that moves.
"We remove the tadpoles quickly to give them the best possible chance of survival.
“They aren’t animals people expect to see.
"But that’s exactly why they’re so effective for helping people understand how amphibians live - and why we’re trying to prevent their extinction."