Teratohyla spinosa (Taylor, 1949)

Species Identification

Teratohyla spinosa is a species of small green frog with large, protruding eyes.

Adult Size

Males reach a snout–vent length of 18–20 mm (0.71–0.79 in), while females grow to 20–23 mm (0.79–0.91 in). When tadpoles undergo metamorphosis, they measure 16 mm (0.63 in) in length.

Male Morphological Feature

Adult males have a visible exposed spine at the base of the thumb.

Male Mating Call

During the wet season, which runs from May to October, males call from low vegetation growing around small streams.

Oviposition Characteristics

Females lay between 18 and 25 eggs on the undersides of leaves and other vegetation, arranged in a single layer within loose jelly.

Tadpole Development

After hatching, tadpole larvae develop in streams.

Habitat and Elevation Range

This species lives in lowland primary humid lowland forests, at elevations ranging from 20 to 800 m (66 to 2,625 ft) above sea level, where it occurs in low vegetation alongside streams.

Conservation Status

While the forest habitat of Teratohyla spinosa is threatened by deforestation, the species itself is not considered threatened overall, due to its wide distribution and presumed large population.