Clawed Frogs and Surinam Toads: Pipidae

Many of the tadpoles are filter feeders, which means that they suck in water and strain out bits of food that were floating in it. The tadpoles of the dwarf clawed frogs actively hunt down and eat insects and other invertebrates (in-VER-teh-bre-hts) or animals without backbones that they find in the water. Adult clawed frogs and Surinam toads eat insects, fishes, occasionally their own tadpoles, as well as mammals and birds that may fall into the water. Since they have no tongues, they must lunge at prey and grab it with their mouths. Some use their front feet to stuff their catch farther into their mouths and/or use the claws of their hind limbs to shred their catch before swallowing it down.