Ceratophryidae
Ceratophryidae includes the common horned frog species. There are 2 species in Peru,
1 in the Madre de Dios department and 1 in the Manu area of which we include 1
species in this guide. They are large frogs with females often exceeding males in size.
Typically, they have green and brown dorsal patterning and a number of species have
distinctive horns above the eyes. They have specialised skulls with a wide mouth for
feeding on larger prey, in some cases as great as 1.6 times the total body length. They
are unmistakable, but easy to miss due to their excellent camouflage.
Ceratophryidae
Most species within this family are terrestrial however species from the genus
Lepidobatrachus, which exhibit a more flattened body shape, are aquatic and inhabit
temporary pools. Ceratophryidae species are well known for their voracious feeding
behavior. They employ a ‘sit and wait’ strategy: concealing themselves on the forest
floor or submerged in mud. Their diet includes other anurans, lizards, snakes, small
birds and small mammals. Cannibalism occurs in both adults and tadpoles within the
family.
Ceratophrys cornuta