Surinam Horned Frog

Surinam Horned Frog

Ceratophrys cornuta

Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Yasuní National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%

6 Verified sightings at Yasuní National Park From 2019 to 2026
218 In all 4 parks
April Best month
🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted

About the Surinam Horned Frog

The Surinam horned frog (Ceratophrys cornuta), also known as Amazonian horned frog, is a bulky frog measuring up to 20 centimetres (7.9 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. 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.

Enrique La Marca, Luis A. Coloma, Santiago Ron, Claudia Azevedo-Ramos (2004). "Ceratophrys cornuta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004 e.T56337A11464093. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T56337A11464093.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:15

French Guiana · 2023

© Augustin Bussac · XC928976 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Advertisement call0:09

French Guiana · 2025

© Arnaud Aury · XC964895 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Recording0:12

Suriname · 2025

© Ted Weber · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
~40%
2 Brownsberg Nature Park 🇸🇷 Suriname
~40%
3 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~40%
4 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Barcelona Zoo 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
2 Oceanarium in Saint Petersburg 🇷🇺 Russia In captivity
3 Greensboro Science Center 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
4 Louisville Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
5 Aquarama Barcelona 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
6 Vancouver Aquarium 🇨🇦 Canada In captivity
7 Xpark 🇹🇼 Taiwan In captivity
8 Awashima Marine Park 🇯🇵 Japan In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Surinam Horned Frog in Yasuní National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Surinam Horned Frog sighting in Yasuní National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 40th most-seen of the 49 amphibians we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Surinam Horned Frog in Yasuní National Park?

January and April

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Surinam Horned Frog in Yasuní National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June to December, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Surinam Horned Frog?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Surinam Horned Frog sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.

Is Yasuní National Park the best place to see a Surinam Horned Frog?

4th of 4

Of the 4 parks where we can rate Surinam Horned Frog sightings, Yasuní National Park ranks 4th at about 10%. The best odds are in Tambopata National Reserve (Peru, about 40%), Brownsberg Nature Park (Suriname, about 40%) and Manu National Park (Peru, about 40%).

Which relatives of the Surinam Horned Frog live in Yasuní National Park?

Same order: Anura

The closest relatives of the Surinam Horned Frog that you can see in Yasuní National Park (order Anura, Frogs and Toads) are Ecuador Poison Frog (about 60%), South American Common Toad (about 60%) and Common Big-headed Frog (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Surinam Horned Frog sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Surinam Horned Frog is recorded against all the amphibians logged in Yasuní National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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