BIOLOGY OF A SIT-AND-WAIT PREDATOR, THE LEPTODACTYLID FROG CERATOPHRYS-CORNUTA

At Cuzco Amazonico in southern Amazonian Peru, the large leptodactylid frog Ceratophrys cornuta is an abundant, nocturnal, terrestrial preda tor. Breeding occurs primarily after the first heavy rains of the rain y season, and activity is strongly correlated with the mean rainfall o f the preceding 48 h. The carnivorous tadpoles develop in shallow pond s and metamorphose in November-March. The frogs move randomly after ra ins; although they are aggressive, there is no evidence of territorial behavior. Ceratophrys cornuta is a sit-and-wait foraging strategist; of the volume of food consumed, 75% consists of large orthopterans and small vertebrates, but ants are the most abundant food item.