Also known as Surinam Horned Frog, Amazon Horned Frog
Amazonian horned frogs are formidable ambush predators that bury themselves in damp leaf litter until only their eyes and horn-like cranial crests remain visible. Equipped with immense jaws and powerful odontoid projections on their lower mandible, they snap up unsuspecting vertebrates with explosive speed. Their carnivorous tadpoles are notoriously aggressive, devouring other aquatic larvae and even each other within days of hatching.
Life span6–10 years in the wild; up to 15 years in captivity
Classification
FamilyCeratophryidae
SpeciesCeratophrys cornuta
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Possesses a powerful, tooth-bearing bite capable of tearing skin; observe without handling.
Why it is dangerous
Massive jaw musculature combined with serrated, fang-like bony projections along the jaw delivers a crushing grip that easily breaks human skin and causes profuse bleeding.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by a stout, round body mottled in brown and green with sharply pointed, triangular skin flaps protruding above each eye.
What to do
Keep hands and boots well away from striking range, and photograph resting individuals from a safe distance using a flashlight or headlamp.
Responsible observation
Scanning the Leaf Litter: Look carefully along humid rainforest trails after dusk for reflective eye-shine peeking out of decaying foliage.
Maintain Space: Never attempt to scoop or prod these frogs, as cornered individuals lunge and clamp down tenaciously.
