Page 171 - Design in Nature

Design and Creation 169

All of these various conscious and self-sacrificing behavioural patterns,
displayed by different species of frogs as acts of defence for the newly born
tadpoles, demolish the fundamental assumptions of Darwinism. The
assertion of Darwinism that all creatures are in an individual and selfish
struggle for survival comes to an inevitable dead end in the face of the efforts
of a single frog to defend its newly born offspring. Furthermore, the
intelligent behaviour shown by these creatures cannot be explained away as

occurring through coincidence as argued by Darwinism. These are clear
signs that living things have been created by Allah and are directed by the
instincts inspired in them. Allah states in Qur’an that there are clear proofs
in living things for all people:

And in your creation and all the creatures He has spread about there are
Signs for people with certainty. (Surat al-Jathiya: 4)

Frogs Reproduced in the Stomach
The extraordinary reproduction method of a species of frog called
Rheobatrachus silus, is another example of the superb design in the creation

of Allah. Female Rheobatrachus frogs swallow their eggs after fertilisation,
not to eat them but to protect them. The hatching tadpoles remain and grow
in the stomach for the first six weeks after hatching. How is it possible that
they can remain in their mother's stomach that long without being digested?
A flawless system has been created to enable them to do so. First, the
female ceases to feed for those six weeks, which means the stomach is
reserved solely for the tadpoles. However, another danger is the regular

release of hydrochloric acid and pepsin in the stomach. These chemicals
would normally quickly kill the offspring. However, this is prevented by a
very special measure. The fluids in the stomach of the mother are
neutralised by the hormonelike substance prostaglandin E , which is
2
secreted first by the egg capsules and then by the tadpoles. Hence, the
offspring grow healthily, even though they are swimming in a pool of acid.