Surinam horned frog

{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}

{{speciesbox

| name = Surinam horned frog

| image = Suriname Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cornuta) (7774154124).jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref ={{cite iucn |author=Enrique La Marca, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Claudia Azevedo-Ramos |date=2004 |title=Ceratophrys cornuta |volume=2004 |page=e.T56337A11464093 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T56337A11464093.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}

| taxon = Ceratophrys cornuta

| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

}}

The Surinam horned frog (Ceratophrys cornuta), also known as Amazonian horned frog, is a bulky frog measuring up to {{convert|20|cm|in}} found in the northern part of South America. It has an exceptionally wide mouth, and has horn-like projections above its eyes. Females lay up to 1,000 eggs at a time, and wrap them around aquatic plants. The frog eats other frogs, fish, lizards, and mice.{{Cite web|url=https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ceratophrys_cornuta/|title=Ceratophrys cornuta|website=Animal Diversity Web }} Tadpoles of the Surinam horned frog attack each other (and tadpoles from other species) soon after being hatched.

This species was once considered the same species as Ceratophrys ornata. This dispute was later settled because the Surinam Horned frog inhabits a different habitat than its smaller cousin and does not interbreed with it in the wild (but will do so in captivity). This species has been known to prey upon the other species of horned frog, especially the northern race of Ceratophrys ornata.

Gallery

File:Ceratophrys cornuta - 3.jpg|{{center|Ceratophrys cornuta}}
{{center| Suriname}}

File:Ceratophrys cornuta 01.jpg|Burying behaviour

File:Ceratophrys cornuta01a.jpg

File:Cornuta side view web.jpg|{{center|Ceratophrys cornuta
skeleton}}

File:Ceratophrys cornuta skeleton front.jpg|{{center|Ceratophrys cornuta
skeleton}}

File:Ceratophrys cornuta - frog - 4.jpg|{{center|Ceratophrys cornuta}}
{{center| Suriname}}

File:Ceratophrys cornuta (10.5852-ejt.2022.836.1919) Figure 3 (cropped).png|Amapá, Brazil

References

{{Reflist}}

  • {{cite iucn |author=Enrique La Marca, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Claudia Azevedo-Ramos |date=2004 |title=Ceratophrys cornuta |volume=2004 |page=e.T56337A11464093 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T56337A11464093.en |access-date=12 November 2021}} Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
  • Animal, Smithsonian Institution, 2005, pg. 445
  • Ditmar's Reptiles of the World: 1937