Page 65 - Devotion Among Animals Revealing the Work of God

Selfless Devotion of Creatures Within the Family

The nest built by the female
crocodile for her eggs.

the mother crocodile
takes them into her
mouth and carries them
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to the water inside it.

The Smith Frog
Among amphibian
parents, one of the best
nest builders is South
African smith frog. The
male builds a nest by the
edge of the water, going
around in circles until it has made a hole in the mud, then pushes
against the hole's walls to widen it. Once its work is finished, it will have
built a pool 10cm (4 inches) deep, with solid mud walls.
Sitting in this pool, the smith frog makes its mating call until it at-
tracts the attention of a female frog. Responding to his call, she lays her
eggs in his pool. After the male fertilizes the eggs, both frogs guard them
until they hatch. When the tadpoles emerge, they swim about in this en-
closure, safe from fishes and insects. After they grow large enough and
develop legs, they climb the walls and leave this carefully prepared
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nursery.

Underwater Architects
It is not widely known that fish build nests, but a surprising num-
ber of freshwater species do—in ponds, lakes and streams. Usually they
clear shallow depressions in the sand or gravel bottom. Once they have
laid their eggs, salmon and trout close up the nests and then leave the

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