Mayan Casque-Headed Frog

Triprion petasatus

Description

Triprion petasatus are generally slender, brownish or olive colored frogs with a cream underbelly, sometimes exhibiting mottling or dark patches. Casque-headed frogs develop pronounced pre-nasal bones giving them a shovel-headed appearance, and subsequently their moniker. This attribute coupled with their protruding eyes gives them a mantid-like head, and the seeming ability to look over their own shoulder. Fully grown casque-headed frogs can attain lengths of up to 4.75 inches (12 centimeters), though lengths of 2-3 inches (6-7 centimeters) are far more common. In captivity, casque-headed frogs have had life spans of more than seven years.

Natural Habitat

Triprion petasatus frogs are endemic to the Yucatan peninsula from the savannas of the central El Peten in Guatemala northwards to the sub humid low lands of the states of Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo in Mexico. Because this frog's habitat coincides with the area in which the Mayan civilization flourished, we refer to them as Mayan casque-headed frogs. Casque-headed frogs are primarily arboreal, inhabiting areas of xerophilous forests, savannas and low tropical forests. The advantage of having completely co-ossified skin in the head is seen during the day, and more particularly, in the dry season. Casque-headed frogs take refuge from the low relative humidity by hiding in holes or crevices in branches, trees, rotten logs or rocks. Once in a hole, they plug the entrance with their heads, thereby maintaining an entirely different micro-environment within the hollow. By maintaining a much higher relative humidity within the hollow and since there is not much tissue in the head, the loss of water is minimal, enabling this frog to exist in areas not moist enough for many other amphibians.

Artificial Habitat

Casque-headed frogs benefit from an enclosure that is taller than it is wide, with substantial foliage for cover. Leafy hanging plants such as pothos, philodendron and the like afford good hiding spots and maximize surface area. Sticks, hollow wood and rock piles also provide good habitat. Substrate can be soil, moss, leaf litter, newspaper, bare or even shallow water (provided that ample space is available to get out of the water). Do not use gravel as it can easily be inadvertently swallowed and cause impaction problems. A large water bowl or similar access to water should be provided as casque-headed frogs often enjoy a swim.

Diet

Casque-headed frogs, like most frogs, eat a variety of worms and small insects. In captivity they can be fed moths, flies, crickets, earthworms, grasshoppers and lawn plankton. As with all captive frogs, food items should be dusted with a vitamin and mineral supplement to compliment the lack of variety of prey inherent in a vivarium setting. Prey items should be no larger than the distance between the frog's eyes.

Caveats

Casque-headed frogs move extraordinarily quickly. When jumping they move in a bullet-like fashion and can easily injure themselves if startled. When cleaning or feeding, it is best to move slowly and deliberately so as to avoid this possibility.

If housing more than one casque-headed frog, it is imperative that any enclosure large enough to hold more than one frog has an alternate escape route due to the casque-headed frog's natural tendency to seal off an opening with their heads.