Costa Rica’s largest native frog (adult snout–vent length 130–180 mm; mass 230–480 g). Dorsum chocolate-brown to bronze with darker reticulations; flanks bear cream ocelli and a cream supralabial stripe bordered by black. Skin granular with prominent dorsolateral folds; glandular shoulder region secretes noxious mucus. Eyes large, bronze-gold; tympanum black-edged. Limbs robust; fingers unwebbed, toes basally webbed. Juveniles display reddish dorsum and proportionally longer limbs. Emits a piercing, infant-like scream when seized — an antipredator adaptation
Males ≈ 150 mm; females ≈ 165 mm SVL
300–400 g
10–12 yr in captivity; wild data spars
Not enough data
Not enough data
18–24 mo (≥ 110 mm SVL)
Onset of heavy rains (May – August)
Foam nest with 1 000–2 500 eggs deposited in shallow forest pools
Costa Rica’s largest native frog (adult snout–vent length 130–180 mm; mass 230–480 g). Dorsum chocolate-brown to bronze with darker reticulations; flanks bear cream ocelli and a cream supralabial stripe bordered by black. Skin granular with prominent dorsolateral folds; glandular shoulder region secretes noxious mucus. Eyes large, bronze-gold; tympanum black-edged. Limbs robust; fingers unwebbed, toes basally webbed. Juveniles display reddish dorsum and proportionally longer limbs. Emits a piercing, infant-like scream when seized — an antipredator adaptation
Mostly terrestrial in lowland and foothill humid forest, forest edge pasture and swamps (0 – 660 m); by day hides in leaf litter, buttress cavities or armadillo burrows; breeds in rain-filled roadside ditches, ponds and slow streams.
Nocturnal mesopredator consuming large insects, spiders, other frogs, lizards and small rodents; occasionally predated by pit-vipers and opossums.
Males establish calling stations on muddy banks; combat includes lateral kicks and inflated body postures.
Exhibits “explosive startle jump” (> 1.5 m) when threatened, aided by robust hind limbs.
Tadpoles emit substrate-borne clicks that may deter predatory dragonfly larvae.
Produces strong musky odour detectable by herpetologists metres away, aiding field surveys.
Tadpoles are carnivorous and may consume eggs of other amphibians sharing pools.
Named in honour of Dr. Jay M. Savage, doyen of Costa-Rican herpetology.
Eyeshine reflects bright red under torch-light, revealing frogs during night walks.
