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Caatinga horned frog
Ceratophrys joazeirensis
The Caatinga Horned Frog is a rare, desert-adapted ambush predator from the Brazilian scrublands. Built for extreme conditions, it spends months burrowed in dry soil, waiting for the heavy seasonal rains.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Ceratophryidae
Subfamily:Ceratophryinae
Genus:Ceratophrys
Species:Ceratophrys joazeirensis
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
30 - 60 %
Day temperature
28 - 30 °C
Night temperature
22 - 24 °C
Ambient temperature
28 - 30 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: This species is endemic to the semi-arid Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil. This biome is characterized by thorny scrub forests, high temperatures, and scarce, highly seasonal rainfall. The frog spends most of the dry season buried deep underground in estivation, emerging only during rains.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Ceratophryidae. It is closely related to other South American horned frogs of the genus Ceratophrys (commonly called Pacman frogs) but is distinguished by specific genetic and morphological markers adapted to arid climates. No color morphs are established.
Behavior and Habits: An extremely sedentary ambush predator. They burrow into the soil, leaving only their eyes and the top of their head exposed, waiting for unsuspecting prey to pass by. During dry spells, they form a protective cocoon from shed skin layers to prevent critical moisture loss.
Morphology: Features a stocky, rounded body with an enormous mouth capable of swallowing prey nearly as large as itself. They possess distinct horn-like fleshy projections above their eyes. Their skin is covered in warts with cryptic green, brown, and yellow coloration. Adults measure between 8 and 12 cm.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A moderate enclosure of 50x30x30 cm is sufficient for a single adult. The substrate is the most important element: provide a layer of damp coconut fiber or peat moss at least 8-10 cm deep to allow for natural burrowing behavior. Add dried leaves and low artificial plants for cover.
Lighting and Heating: Does not require intense lighting; standard ambient room light is adequate. Maintain daytime temperatures between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius (77-82°F), dropping to 20-22 degrees at night. Use a thermostat-controlled heat mat on the side of the tank rather than underneath to avoid overheating the burying spot.
Humidity and Hydration: Relative humidity should be kept at 60-70%. Spray the substrate daily to keep it moist but never soggy, as saturated soil leads to fatal bacterial skin rot. Provide a shallow water dish filled with dechlorinated water; the frog will soak in it to hydrate through its skin.
Feeding and Supplementation: Highly voracious. Feed a variety of gut-loaded crickets, roaches, earthworms, silkworms, and occasionally pinky mice (for large adults only). Dust food items with calcium and vitamin D3 twice a week. Overfeeding must be avoided as they are prone to obesity.
Compatibility: Must be housed strictly alone. They possess an intense feeding response and are highly cannibalistic. They will attempt to consume anything that moves, including tankmates of their own species and size, resulting in death or severe injury.
Health and Common Diseases: Vulnerable to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) from calcium deficiencies, and Toxic Out Syndrome if the enclosure is not cleaned regularly. Bacterial infections (Red Leg disease) can occur from dirty substrate. If the substrate dries out too much, the frog may enter premature estivation.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This species is endemic to the semi-arid Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil. This biome is characterized by thorny scrub forests, high temperatures, and scarce, highly seasonal rainfall. The frog spends most of the dry season buried deep underground in estivation, emerging only during rains.
Origin
Extra-Amazon South America
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 10.5 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 10.5 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 10.5 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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