Toads
Puerto Rican crested toad (Peltophryne lemur)
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Zoo collection includes: Seven toads
Found in the wild: Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
See Them at the Central Park Zoo: Upstairs in the close-up gallery in the Tropic Zone.
Description: About 2.5–5.5 inches long. Brown coloring.
Zoo Toad Habitat: A small pool of water and lots of great rocky hiding spaces.
What do they eat: Worms, insects (adult and larval), and other invertebrates. At the Central Park Zoo, this toad is fed crickets, mealworms, wax worms (larvae of the greater wax moth).
Threats: Listed as threatened due to habitat loss. They are now a part of the SSP (Species Survival Plan) program.
Fun Facts: This is the only toad native to Puerto Rico, and once ranged over the entire lowland portion of the island.
Surinam Toad (Pipa pipa)
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Description: Square and flattened body shape. Their heads are flat on top, but flaps of skin around the jaws break up the outline. The hind feet are large and webbed.
Zoo collection includes: Two individuals
Found in the wild: Northeastern South America and lives in the waters of the Amazon River Basin.
See Them at the Central Park Zoo: The toads can be found in the special Frog/Toad exhibit in the Gallery close to the entrance of the Zoo. They are hard to find. Look under the logs or on the back wall of the tank.
What do they eat: They eat small fish, worms, and water bugs. AT CPZ they eat earthworms, goldfish, and minnows
Threats: Habitat reduction.
Fun Facts: The Pipa Pipa lives entirely under water. After the female lays her eggs, the male places them on the skin of her back, where they sink into the skin and implant there. Even after the eggs hatch, the young frogs develop through the tadpole stage inside these skin pockets. They eventually emerge from the mother's back as fully developed froglets.