The Pipa pipa: Have you seen this frog in Trinidad?

The Suriname toad (Pipa pipa) is perhaps one of the most bizarre looking frogs in Trinidad. This frog is predominantly aquatic inhabiting muddy bottoms of rivers. They feed on aquatic invertebrates and fish and use their star-shaped fingers which have filamentous tactile organs to detect food. During courtship the male fertilizes the eggs and then positions them so they attach to the female's back. The skin of the female grows around the fertilized eggs and the embryos develop with the females skin. They hatch after 90-120 days of incubation as miniature adults, about 20 mm in length. On Trinidad all of the records are from the southern portion of the island. When last have you seen this frog in Trinidad? Do let us know so we can help update its distribution on the island.

Pipa pipa  mother with young frogs on her back. Photo from The American Museum of Natural History