Pipa pipa

9.9

A South American toad that carries its eggs in holes on its back until they become tadpoles

noun

Specialized

: Pipa pipa

The Pipa pipa is remarkable for the way it carries its eggs embedded in its back.

Examples

Unlike most amphibians, Pipa pipa mothers protect their young until they are fully formed tadpoles.
The Pipa pipa is also known as the Surinam toad.
Researchers studied the unique reproductive habits of the Pipa pipa in the Amazon rainforest.
Have you ever seen a Pipa pipa in the wild?
Researchers studied the unique reproductive habits of the Pipa pipa in the Amazon rainforest, where its young can develop safely.
The Pipa pipa is remarkable for the way it incubates its young in special pits on its back, a fascinating adaptation for survival.
Unlike most amphibians, Pipa pipa mothers carry their embryos in their skin until they become fully formed, showcasing a unique parenting method.

Synonyms

Surinam toad

vsPipa pipa

Specialized

9.8

A South American toad that carries and protects its babies in pockets on its back

is the scientific species name rather than the common name

Surface Forms

Pipa pipa singular

Pipa pipas plural

Morphology

Pipa + Pipa

This is a scientific binomial (genus + species) rather than a compositional English phrase: knowing 'Pipa' may allow a learner to infer it relates to the frog genus, but the specific species identity and its reproductive behavior (Surinam toad incubating young in skin pits) are not derivable from the repeated proper name. Because the meaning relies on taxonomic knowledge and not on predictable combination of constituent meanings, it would be opaque to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Pipa pipa is the name of a South American toad famous for carrying its eggs in small pits on its back. The female's skin makes little pockets where the eggs develop, so you can remember this species as the toad that 'wears' and protects its babies until they hatch.