# Carvalho's Surinam toad (*Pipa carvalhoi*) Carvalho's Surinam toad is a unique frog that looks like a flat, brown pancake! It lives in water and has a special way of protecting its babies by carrying them on its back. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Carvalho's Surinam toad](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pipa_carvalhoi01.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Lucas Grandinetti, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pipa_carvalhoi01.jpeg) ## Appearance The Carvalho's Surinam toad has a remarkably flat, leaf-like body, colored in mottled browns and greys for excellent camouflage. Its small, beady eyes are positioned on top of its triangular head. The skin is rough and textured, unlike many smooth-skinned frogs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Pipidae - **Genus:** Pipa ## Interesting facts - Carvalho's Surinam toad can breathe through its skin while underwater! - Their unusual call sounds like tiny clicks coming from under the water! - These toads spend almost their whole lives underwater, rarely coming to land! - This toad has no tongue! It uses its front fingers to grab food. ## Special abilities - **Living Incubator:** Carvalho's Surinam toad has a special porous skin on its back that helps them carry and protect their developing eggs until they hatch. - **Underwater Sensors:** Carvalho's Surinam toad has tiny, sensitive finger-like appendages that help them detect prey in murky water. - **Master of Disguise:** Carvalho's Surinam toad has a flat, mottled brown body that helps them blend perfectly with leaf litter and mud on the riverbed. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4-6 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-5 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 20-60 - **Metamorphosis:** 12-28 days ## Diet & Feeding This toad is a stealthy hunter, ambushing small aquatic animals like insects and tiny fish. - **Age differences:** Younger toads will eat smaller prey items, but their overall diet remains similar. - **Primary Foods:** Aquatic insects, Insect larvae, Small fish, Crustaceans - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Wolf Fish (*Hoplias malabaricus*) — Large fish hunt toads in their aquatic home. - **Eaten by:** Brownbanded Watersnake (*Helicops angulatus*) — Aquatic snakes prey on toads hiding in the water. - **Eats:** Red Midge (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Toads ambush the larvae of these common midges. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch amphibians from a distance and don't touch them, as they can be sensitive to our skin. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Carvalho's Surinam toad? Check the toe pads, leg length, eye markings, back pattern and body shape. Don't lean on color: some frogs change shade to match their surroundings. Frog Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Carvalho's Surinam toad? 4-6 cm ### How much does Carvalho's Surinam toad weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Carvalho's Surinam toad live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Carvalho's Surinam toad move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Carvalho's Surinam toad eat? This toad is a stealthy hunter, ambushing small aquatic animals like insects and tiny fish. ### Where is Carvalho's Surinam toad usually found? Wetlands ### How does Carvalho's Surinam toad hunt? Ambush ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [Carvalho's Surinam toad: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carvalhos-surinam-toad)