Boana boans
—
Giant Gladiator Treefrog
Also known as:
Gladiator Treefrog, Rusty Treefrog
This species was until 2017 placed in the genus Hypsiboas.
These are impressively large treefrogs. They earned the name "Gladiator Treefrogs" because the adult males use exposed bones on their thumbs to do battle for territory. This one was, however, just sleeping peacefully on a leaf.
Here is a complete list of the herps I saw in the wild on my 2013 MT Amazon Expeditions trip.
These two very large adult Boana boans guarded different edges of a good-sized pond just off the Nauta road, which also featured another large treefrog species, as well as a friendly caiman.
Printed references:
- Bartlett, R.D., and Bartlett, P. 2003. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon: An Ecotourist's Guide
- Duellman, W.E. 2005. Cusco Amazónico: The Lives of Amphibians and Reptiles in an Amazonian Rainforest
- Rodríguez, L. O. and Duellman, W. E. 1994. Guide to the Frogs of the Iquitos Region, Amazonian Peru