Fauna
Amphibian

Zombie Frog

Synapturanus zombie

Zombie frogs spend virtually their entire lives concealed deep within subterranean mud burrows across the primary rainforests of the Guiana Shield. Males announce their presence only during torrential downpours, vocalizing from beneath the saturated leaf litter with resonant calls that vibrate through the damp forest floor. Their pointed snouts and muscular bodies are specialized adaptations for tunneling efficiently through compacted tropical soils.

NocturnalFossorialAmphibian
Zombie Frog reference
Taucce, P. P., Costa-Campos, C. E., Carvalho, T. R., & Michalski, F. (2022). Anurans (Amphibia: Anura) of the Brazilian state of Amapá, eastern Amazonia: species diversity and knowledge gaps. European Journal of Taxonomy, 836(1), 96–130. / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyTermites, Ants, Soil mites
Predators
  • Fossorial snakes
  • Spiders
  • Centipedes
ThreatsDeforestation, gold mining runoff, and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsLowland tropical rainforest floor and subterranean mud burrows
Life span4–8 years
Classification
  1. FamilyMicrohylidae
  2. SpeciesSynapturanus zombie
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Listen during downpours: Focus on acoustic detection immediately after heavy tropical rains when males call.
  • Avoid excavation: Refrain from digging into root mats or leaf litter, as uncovering burrows disrupts nesting.
Related species
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