Spiny-headed tree frog (Triprion spinosus)

Appearance

This species is large (58 to 80 mm), with numerous sharp, pointed projections on the head and dorsal surface, hence the common name.

Coronated Treefrog (Anotheca spinosa) tadpoles after consuming food eggs from parent Living above the forest floor in water filled tree holes and in bromeliads (phytotelmata or plant held waters); the reclusive Coronated Treefrog (Anotheca spinosa) is the only member of its genus. It is found through the montane forests of Central America and suffers from habitat destruction. The tadpoles feed on mosquito larvae at first but finish their development eating food eggs the female deposits for them to eat. The process of egg feeding is called oophagy. The tadpoles swallow the eggs hole - which can be seen in the guts of these tadpoles. These tadpoles were photographed in a conservation breeding laboratory at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Anotheca spinosa,Central America,Coronated Treefrog,Spiny-headed tree frog,amphibian decline,arboreal frog,bromeliad,canopy frog,oophagy,parental care,phytotelmata,tree hole

Distribution

It is found in Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama, and its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Anotheca spinosa Description
The size of the male is about 68 mm, the female typically measures about 80 mm. This frog has an unmistakable head with pointed spines and a large tympanum. Young people lack projections. Males do not have vocal clefts (Jungfer 1996). The color is dark brown above with a black veined and flanks bordered by white. The larvae are white at hatching (Jungfer 1996), and later become dark brown at the top and bluish gray at the bottom as they mature (Savage 2002).
It lives in cloud forests and is active all year round and is difficult to find. It is an arboreal species, found in bromeliads and banana plants. The calls of the males come from water-filled cavities, such as tree holes, open bamboo internodes or bromelia leaf armpits. The call is a strong "boop-boop-boop" and can be heard up to 100 m away.
Its distribution by country includes Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and Panama. Southeastern Mexico (disjoint populations on the Atlantic slopes of the Sierra de los Tuxtlas, Oaxaca State and Veracruz State, 800-2,068 meters over sea level); eastern Honduras (95 meters over sea level ); Costa Rica and western Panama (350-1,330 meters over sea level).
Tadpoles have been found in bromeliads on felled trees, in hollows of trees full of water and in bamboo internodes in a botanical garden forest. Larvae can breathe atmospheric oxygen after hatching.
The species is seldom seen, but is often heard in a suitable habitat in Costa Rica. In Mexico it is reported as rare, where it appears to have been extirpated from some places. Only two specimens are known in Honduras; has protected status in two Honduran reserves, the El Ocote Biosphere Reserve, La Amistad International Park and the Tawahka Asagni Biosphere Reserve. The state of Panama is unknown. A captive breeding program is underway at the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center in Panama.
The main threats to this species appear to be habitat loss and degradation, resulting from small-scale agriculture and subsistence wood harvesting. In any case, the possible reasons for the decline of amphibians are already well known: alteration and general loss of habitat, modification of the habitat of deforestation, or activities related to logging, intensified agriculture or grazing.

http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-genus=Anotheca&where;-species=spinosa

Close-up
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/54493/anotheca_spinosa.html Anotheca spinosa,Spiny-headed tree frog

Status

It is threatened by habitat loss.

References:

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Status: Least concern
EX	EW	CR	EN	VU	NT	LC

Taxonomy
Kingdom	Animalia
Division	Chordata
Class	Amphibia
Order	Anura
Family	Hylidae
Genus	Anotheca
Species	T. spinosus

Photographed in
Costa Rica
United States of America