Common Name: Sumaco Horned Treefrog
Scientific Name: Hemiphractus proboscideus
Family: Hemiphractidae – Marsupial Frog family
Location: Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador
Size: Females grow to between 2.2 – 2.5 inches (57 – 66 mm) while males only grow to between to 1.6 – 1.9 inches (43 – 50 mm)
The Sumaco Horned Treefrog is a nocturnal and arboreal frog species. They live their lives in the trees above the Amazon Rainforest floor. The frogs have large fangs on their bottom jaw that is used to grab onto prey like lizards and other frogs. For protection, they can open their mouth to reveal their bright yellow tongue, which can scare off predators.
After mating, the females of the species carries their eggs on their back until they hatch into froglets, skipping the tadpole phase. They can carry up to 26 eggs on their back at one time! The female carries the eggs to help protect them from predators.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categorizes the Sumaco Horned Treefrog as Least Concern for Extinction. They have a wide range and a presumed large population. However, some local populations are threatened by deforestation but overall, they seem to be fine.
