On a leaf above a heap of translucent eggs on a leaf of a plant that hangs above the water, a male glass frog, less than 2 cm tall, sits continuously calling for a female.

He hangs over the eggs to give the impression that he has fertilized them and is therefore a great caring father He observed in his young life that the females are charmed by the older male peers who do that.Males who keep eggs, he found, are more likely to attract a female.

He has never cared for eggs himself. But this is definitely what he plans to do. This is because, at some point in evolution, probably millions of years ago, this assignment was stored in his genes.

As soon as the female gently deposits her eggs on a beautiful, soft leaf above the water, she spreads his sperm neatly over them.

His job is to keep the eggs well moist. To do this, he collects water through his skin and then continuously sprays the eggs with his ureter or skin.The scientists do not agree on that yet.

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2 comments
En het is nog een schatje ook, zou er een klein prinsje in schuilen?
weer wat geleerd over dit mooie glaskikkertje.