Tadpoles feed upon father's skin

[findi]

Fringe-limbed treefrog tadpoles feed upon father's skin! http://bitly.com/QFmvGA

 

[bugmankeith]

Thats a pretty smart and nutritious way to feed them!

 

[findi]

Some caeciliens do this as well...amazing!

 

[Low]

Lots of fish do this as well....especially mouthbrooders.

 

[findi]

Lots of fish do this as well....especially mouthbrooders.

Yes, thank-you. I've seem this in discus as well. I believe fish produce a mucus-like secretion to feed the young. Do you know of any examples of a species that actually grows new skin to feed them, as happens in the frog and caecilien mentioned earlier? Unique solution, odd as it may be. There is a BBC video posted of skin feeding in a caecilien, first ever; worth seeing. Best, Frank

 

[Low]

Im no ichthyologist but im sure in fish its just excessive mucous....some, like jaguar cichlids, produce so much it sloughs off...others, like discus, some angels, african cichlids etc... Seem to only develop a thicker slime coat...

I watched the video of the caecilian...very interesting.

 

[findi]

Im no ichthyologist but im sure in fish its just excessive mucous....some, like jaguar cichlids, produce so much it sloughs off...others, like discus, some angels, african cichlids etc... Seem to only develop a thicker slime coat...

I watched the video of the caecilian...very interesting.

The video really surprised me also, glad you saw it. Yes, mucus was my understanding also. A unique type, produced only during breeding season, is used to feed the fry for a time. Best, Frank