Small creatures. Extraordinary world.   •   A Really Byte field guide
Ceratophryidae · Species field note

Cranwell's horned frog

Ceratophrys cranwelli

Cranwell's horned frog

Pablo H Capovilla · CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped for display. Full photo credit & licence

Region
South America
Main habitat
ground
Adult body length
About 8–13 cm; sexes vary
Keeping suitability
Pet candidate — research first

A little natural history

A Gran Chaco ambush predator with camouflage mottling and a huge mouth. It is a different species from the ornate horned frog, despite sharing the widely used Pacman nickname.

The wonderfully odd bit

Even tadpoles are carnivorous and may eat one another.

Would this frog suit a home?

House individually and provide burrowing opportunities, controlled conditions and appropriately sized food. Do not imitate wild drought dormancy without specialist advice.

Only consider legally obtained, captive-bred animals. Check permits and restrictions where you live, test the habitat first, and arrange an amphibian-experienced vet. This brief profile is not a complete husbandry sheet.

Read the species-specific care guide ↗

A note on names

Other names you may encounter: Chacoan horned frog; Pacman frog. Taxonomic names change; older care resources may use earlier combinations.

Keep exploring

Read the reference for this species ↗

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