About Ceratophrys cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Surinam horned frog, scientifically named Ceratophrys cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758), is also commonly called the Amazonian horned frog. This bulky frog can grow up to 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) long, and lives in the northern region of South America. It has an unusually wide mouth, with horn-shaped projections above its eyes. Females of this species lay up to 1,000 eggs in a single clutch, and wrap the eggs around aquatic plants. The adult Surinam horned frog feeds on other frogs, fish, lizards, and mice. Immediately after hatching, Surinam horned frog tadpoles attack both other tadpoles of their own species and tadpoles from other species. This species was once classified as the same species as Ceratophrys ornata. The classification dispute was resolved when it was confirmed that the Surinam horned frog occupies a different habitat than its smaller cousin C. ornata, and does not interbreed with C. ornata in the wild, though the two species will interbreed in captivity. The Surinam horned frog is known to prey on other horned frog species, especially the northern race of Ceratophrys ornata.
