Piggybacking Pollywogs

You probably know that God created many birds and mammals with incredible
parenting skills. But you may be amazed what effort a tiny amphibian from the
remote forests of Central America makes to ensure its offspring’s survival – even when they are pollywogs (tadpoles).

Many frog species simply lay their eggs in water and leave the scene. Any eggs
that don’t get eaten hatch into tadpoles that must fend for themselves. Not
so with the poison dart frogs of Central and South America! Devoted parents,
they remain with the eggs until they hatch. Since they lay their eggs out of
the water, they keep coming back to ensure that the eggs stay moist. Once the
eggs hatch, either one or both parents carry the tadpoles on their backs to
a nearby water hole, where the young complete development.

His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.

Strawberry poison dart frog moms take parenting to an even higher level. Laying
fewer eggs than most frogs, they invest considerable time and energy to make
sure their three to nine tadpoles survive. Such dedication is no accident.

Before the female lays eggs, however, a male suitor courts her by calling.
Only males call—a surprisingly loud vocalization for such a tiny frog. If she
shows interest, the female follows him, as he continues to call, to an egg-laying
site of his choosing, often at the end of a leaf.

After the eggs are laid and fertilized, for the next seven to twelve days, the
father diligently keeps the eggs moist until they hatch. He must. If they dry
out, they won’t survive. When the eggs hatch, the father’s role is finished,
and the mother takes over “child-rearing.”

First, the mother squats down and allows a single tadpole to wiggle up onto
her back. Then she searches low and high for a suitable, small body of water
in which to place her youngster. Sometimes she already seems to have a place
in mind. Other times she will carry the tadpole around for days until she finds
just the right spot.

When she finds that perfect place—often a rain-filled leaf “axil” (the upper
angle between a leaf and the stem) of a bromeliad plant—she backs into the “pool,”
and the tadpole takes its first swim. The mother knows enough to put only one
tadpole in each pool, a good thing since the stronger siblings might cannibalize
the weaker ones.

Next, this “super mom” does something that is truly extraordinary. She somehow
remembers or senses where she dropped off each tadpole. For six to eight weeks,
she regularly revisits them—often every day—to lay unfertilized eggs for her
youngsters to eat, their only source of nourishment until their metamorphosis
is complete.

God’s awesome care can be seen everywhere, even in the remote forests of Central
America, where lowly strawberry poison dart frogs faithfully care for their
young.

His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made.” (Romans 1:20)

Perry McDorman earned his bachelor of science degree in biology from Milligan College. He is the Creation Museum naturalist and maintains the indoor live exhibits at the museum, including the poison dart frog exhibit.