Critter Science
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
        • Coastal Erosion
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Natural Selection
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Light Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Noise Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
        • Recycling Plastics
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Elephant Communication
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Mustelid Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
Subscribe
Argentine horned frog

The Argentine Horned Frog

  • 23 March, 2023
  • Critterman
  • 2 Comments
  • 1051 Views
  • 4 Likes
Amphibian Facts, Daily Critter Facts, Frog Facts

The Argentine horned frog, aka Argentine wide-mouthed frog, Argentinean horned frog, ornate horned frog, ornate horned toad, ornate Pacman frog, or Pacman frog, hails from the grasslands of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. These large amphibians have a habit of eating nearly anything that happens close to their mouth. Due to the threats of residential and commercial development; agriculture; aquaculture; hunting; trapping; and pollution, these cool critters are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Their populations are also decreasing, in the wild.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Ceratophrys ornata
Weight: Up to 1 lb.
Length: Up to 4.5 inches
Lifespan: Up to 6 years

Now on to the Facts!

1.) These big mouthed frogs have a voracious appetite. They have been known to eat anything that ventures too close to their mouth. They prey on mice, rats, other amphibians, lizards, snakes, and insects.

2.) These frogs have sharp odontoid projections too. I have been bitten by them before and they’ll draw blood.

3.) Their mouth equals nearly half of their total length.

4.) Like all amphibians, their skin is permeable. They absorb water and oxygen through their skin.

5.) The downer of having permeable skin is that they also absorb chemicals and possible poisons through their skin.

But wait, there’s more on the Argentine horned frog!

6.) These critters are fearless and will jump towards a potential attacker, attempting to eat it.

7.) Argentine horned frogs reproduce sexually.

Did you know…?
1 of their nicknames, Pacman frog, is in honor of the video game character who is known for eating a lot, even at the risk of his own life.

8.) Females will lay an egg mass that contains up to 2,000 eggs.

9.) Eggs hatch into tadpoles in approximately 2 weeks.

10.) Tadpoles metamorphose into froglets in just 1 month.

Now a Short Argentine Horned Frog Video!

Be sure to share & comment below! Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel. Videos added regularly!

Want to suggest a critter for me to write about? Let me know here.

Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN

amphibianArgentinaArgentineArgentine horned frogeatfroghornedhorned frogSouth America
Critterman

With over 50 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

The Troublesome Codling Moth
The American Cockroach
Related Posts
  • rhinoceros auklet
    The Rhinoceros Auklet 29 August, 2025
  • Tanzanian blue ringleg centipede
    The Tanzanian Blue Ringleg Centipede 28 August, 2025
  • Queensland whistling tarantula
    The Queensland Whistling Tarantula 27 August, 2025
  • Daily Critter Facts
  • Guest Articles
  • BYET
  • Teachers
  • Study Guides
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025, Critter Science. All Rights Reserved.