Ceratobatrachus guentheri

Ceratobatrachus guentheri
Ceratobatrachus guentheri
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Ceratobatrachus
Boulenger, 1884
Species: C. guentheri
Binomial name
Ceratobatrachus guentheri
Boulenger, 1884
Ceratobatrachus guentheri

Ceratobatrachus guentheri is a species of frog in the Ranidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Ceratobatrachus. Common names include:

  • Solomon Island Leaf Frog
  • Solomon Island Eyelash Frog
  • Gunther's Triangle Frog

Soloman Island leaf frogs are a medium sized terrestrial frog found in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. They average about 3-4 inches in length, with females being larger than the males. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rural gardens, urban areas, and heavily degraded former forest, where their cryptic coloration and dorsal patterns aid in their camouflage--often mimicking decaying leaf matter--giving rise to the common name of "leaf frog". They are an interesting example of a species that undergoes direct development--skipping the tadpole stage and emerging from the egg as a fully developed froglet. They grow rapidly from a 1/8" long froglet on a diet of tiny insects until they can take the adult diet of insects, arthropods, smaller amphibians and small reptiles. They are ambush predators, pouncing quickly on any prey animals that happen to wander within their reach--including their own species.

References

See also