Discovery of Milk-Feeding Amphibian Challenges Evolutionary Theories

Scientists have found the first amphibian species that feeds its young a milk-like substance, offering new insights into the evolution of parental care.

A newly discovered South American amphibian, the ringed caecilian, feeds its offspring a milk-like substance, marking a significant departure from typical amphibian reproductive behaviors.
The milk, rich in fats and nutrients, enables the young caecilians to more than double in size within the first week of birth, highlighting its nutritional value.
This feeding behavior, accompanied by the young's high-pitched squeaks, represents a form of communication and begging behavior previously unseen in amphibians.
The discovery challenges the traditional understanding of reproductive evolution, suggesting a more diverse evolution of parental care across animal life.
Experts believe this finding could lead to a reevaluation of how certain reproductive traits, such as lactation, have evolved in vertebrates.