1. Parental Care in Amphibians
By-
Dr. Subhadra Roy

2. Parental Care is
Care of the eggs or youngs by the parents until they are independent to defend from predators.
Parental care is a behavioural and evolutionary strategy adopted by some animals favouring the continuation of race.
It involves a non-genetic parental investment which increases the the evolutionary fitness of offspring.
Patterns of parental care are widespread and highly diverse across the animal kingdom.

3. Modes/ways of parental care in amphibians
Selection of site
Frothing of water
Formation of nests
Carrying eggs over the body
Carrying larvae from one place to another
Placement of eggs in safest part
Viviparity

4. Selection of site
Rhacophorus schlegli- eggs are laid in a hole on muddy bank of river or pond. The eggs are covered by foamy mucus to prevent dessication. The eggs are washed out into the water of the river or pond by the rain and development starts there.

5. Selection of site
Gryrinophilus-
Eggs are laid under the stones in stream. The eggs are then taken up on any part of the body and a secretion prevents growing of fungi over them.

6. Selection of site Hylodes-
Eggs are laid on the under surface of the leaves hanging above water .

7. Selection of site
Triton and Leptodactylus-
Eggs are laid under the surface of leaves near the vicinity of water. In Triton, the eggs may be fixed with the aquatic weeds by glues.

8. Selection of site Hynobiid salamanders-
The males remain with the eggs for fertilization and take active care of the eggs.

9. Frothing of water Rhacophorus maculatus -
Just after the laying of eggs, the surrounding water is made frothy by the wriggling movements of hindlimbs, so that the eggs are prevented from dessication and also escape the sight of enemies. Both males and female participate in this process.

10. Formation of nests Mud nest- Hyla faber-
Parents dig a small hole in the mud for the developing eggs and the surplus mud acts as the wall.

11. Formation of nests B. Leaf nest- Phyllomedusa
In this South American tree frog, the margin of leaves are folded to form nest. Leaf margins are glued together by cloacal secretion. It has an aperture at the base and the nest overhangs watery area.

12. Formation of nests
C. Shoot nest- Triton - Constructs shoot nest by fixing the shoots of the trees in which the eggs are deposited and the youngs are developed. The whole nest remains covered by a gelatinous secretion.

13. Carrying eggs over the body
Hyla goeldii
- Females carry the eggs on their back in incipient brood pouches. The youngs come out as full-fledged frogs but with tail.

14. Carrying eggs over the body
Alytes obstetricans- found in France and Italy. After fertilization, the eggs are wrapped round the back of the thigh of the male and he withdraws himself into a hole near the pond. When the eggs are ready to hatch, the male carries them to the nearest water where the larvae come out.

15. Carrying eggs over the body
Desmognathus- Females carry the eggs and live in underground hole. .

16. Carrying eggs over the body
Pipa pipa
- eggs are carried by females on the back.

17. Carrying eggs over the body
Cryptobatrachus evansi-
- In females, the soft spongy skin on the dorsal side sinks into small pockets into which the eggs are lodged.

18. Carrying eggs over the body
Pipa dorsigera-
- Eggs are deposited in pits on the back of females. During breeding season, the dorsal skin of the females becomes soft, spongy and gelatinous. The males place the eggs on the back of the female where each egg sinks into a small pit. An operculum covers the pit. The larva comes out 80 days after the deposition of the egg.

19. Carrying eggs over the body
Nototrema pygmaeum-
- Only few eggs develop in the brood pouch on the back of the female.
Nototrema oviferum-
- Metamorphosis is fully completed inside the brood pouch.

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