#spiny-headed treefrog

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Crowned Tree Frog (Triprion spinosus), found in Costa Rica.

Photo by Rafael Steinlesberger

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Crown hyla

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ROUND 1 POLL 15

Spiny-Headed Tree Frog (Triprion spinosus)

Guenther’s Marsupial Frog (Gastrotheca guentheri)

Voting ended onMar 29, 2023

Spiny-Headed Treefrog: This species’ most immediately notable characteristic is the spines protruding from their head. Like most other frogs, the male finds a suitable place to lay eggs, (in this case, a temporary pool, tree hollow, or bromeliad filled with water,) and calls for the female. They lay a few eggs over the water, and return approximately every seven days to continue breeding. Since the pools are small and tend to lack food, the female will care for the young on nights when the male is not present, resting semi-submerged in the water and laying unfertilized eggs as the tadpoles nibble at her before voraciously devouring their fresh meal.

Guenther's Marsupial Frog: Most Anurans only have one set of teeth on their upper jaw. This species, however, is the only one to have re-evolved a second set. As a marsupial frog, (members of the genus Gastrotheca,) they do not leave their eggs in a particular pool or plant. Instead, the female has a pouch on her back to carry the eggs, keeping them in contact with her blood vessels to supply them with oxygen. Sadly, although a new member of the genus, G. gemma, was discovered just in 2021, this species has not been spotted in its range of Columbia and Ecuador since 1996.