Argentine horned frog Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Argentine horned frog

Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Uperodon ornatum Bell, 1843 Ceratophrys ornata — Günther, 1858

The Argentine horned frog (Ceratophrys ornata) is also known by many other names. Some people call it the Argentine wide-mouthed frog or the ornate pacman frog. It is a type of frog that belongs to the family called Ceratophryidae.

This frog lives only in South America. You can find it in the grasslands of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. It is the most common kind of South American horned frog. These frogs are very hungry eaters! They will try to swallow almost anything that moves near their big mouths. This includes insects, small rodents, lizards, and even other frogs. Sometimes, they might even choke trying to eat something too big.

Many people also keep the Argentine horned frog as an exotic pet. Its nickname "pacman frog" comes from the famous 1980s arcade game Pac-Man. Just like Pac-Man, this frog eats a lot. And its mouth takes up a huge part of its body!

All About the Argentine Horned Frog
Gallery
See also

All About the Argentine Horned Frog

What do they look like?

Female Argentine horned frogs can grow quite large. They can be up to 16.5 centimeters (6.5 inches) long from their snout to their bottom. Males are a bit smaller, usually around 11.5 centimeters (4.5 inches) long. In the wild, these frogs usually live for 6 to 7 years. But if they are kept as pets, they can live for 10 years or even longer!

The most noticeable thing about a horned frog is its mouth. It makes up about half of the frog's entire body size! Their skin is usually bright green with red spots. But you can also find them in dark green, black, or even albino (all yellow) colors.

It's hard to tell if a young frog is male or female. But once they are grown up, you can spot the differences. Males are smaller than females. Also, male frogs have dark colored throats. They also have special rough patches called nuptial pads on their front legs.

What do they eat?

All horned frogs, including the Argentine kind, hunt in a special way. They stay very still and wait for their food to come to them. They will try to eat anything that can fit into their huge mouths. Sometimes, they even try to eat things that are too big!

In the wild, their usual diet includes small rodents like mice. They also eat small reptiles, large spiders, and insects like locusts.

Horned frogs are known for being brave. They will try to eat animals that are almost as big as they are! If a bigger animal, like a human, threatens them, these frogs can give a painful bite. They have sharp bumps, not real teeth, along their jaws. Sometimes, they will even jump towards whatever is bothering them, no matter how big it is!

When kept as pets, it's easy to feed these frogs. Pet horned frogs usually eat large locusts, crickets, and live fish. However, feeding them too many mice can be bad for them. Studies show that eating too many mice can make them gain too much fat. This can sometimes lead to blindness and even death.

How do they reproduce?

Argentine horned frogs reproduce by having a male and female mate. The female frog lays about 2,000 eggs in the water. In about two weeks, these eggs hatch and become tadpoles.