AquaZoo welcomes six animal species with unusual way of reproduction

Males carrying eggs on their hind legs, fish that seem to fall from the sky with the rain and crabs with skeletons on the outside. All these special animals can be seen together in a special area in AquaZoo. Apart from their specific characteristics, all inhabitants have one thing in common: they reproduce in a special way.

The new space, which opens to visitors on Saturday, June 5, features seven enclosures with six different animal species. These include two species of poison dart frogs, balearic toads, killer fish, vampire crabs, axolotls and Portuguese fire salamanders. In the last enclosure, AquaZoo alternately shows the development of growing young animals from the other enclosures.

"Several of these species, including the golden poison dart frog, are endangered. Climate change and environmental pollution are disastrous for these animals. Zoos are therefore committed to the conservation of these species, in part by telling the story of these species. It is fantastic that we can contribute to the preservation of these animals in this way," says William Kreijkes, head of animal care.

Only one in the NetherlandsThe six different modes of reproduction are central to the enclosure. For example, the male balearic toads carry the eggs, after they are deposited and fertilized, on their hind legs. They do this for about three weeks, then they put the eggs back in the water, after which the tadpoles hatch.

The balearic toads have come over to AquaZoo from an English zoo. This makes the Frisian zoo the only zoo in the Netherlands with this species of toad. The toad occurs in the wild on Mallorca.

Saved by the breeding programFor a long time, the balearic toad was thought to be extinct. In 1977 this species was described based on fossils, two years later it was rediscovered. A breeding program was then established, after which the balearic toad was reintroduced to its natural habitat.

"That has really been the balearic toad's salvation. By now the toads are doing better again, but it is still a vulnerable species. There are only about 500 to 1,500 pairs left in the wild," Kreijkes said.