In the process of being eaten

These images show various stages in the process of a frog (Hyla rosenbergi) being eaten by a snake (Leptophis ahatulla).

Snake eating a frog

A few days ago, I was in the garden, when I heard a stange, beeping call. It was pretty loud. It turned out to be a green parrot snake, known locally as "Lora falsa" (Leptophis ahatulla), that had managed to catch a Gladiator frog, also known as Rosenberg's tree frog (Hyla rosenbergi). As the image shows, the snake had captured the frog by its rear end, and held it there clamped in it's jaws for some time, until the frog finally died. At some point (although, we did not observe this part of the process) it managed to turn the frog, and proceeded to devour it head first. It is truly amazing that this snake, not much thicker than a adult human's finger, managed to swallow what is one of the larger frog species to be found here at Los Charcos. The size ratio can clearly be seen here.

The Smoky Jungle Frog, or "Rana Toro" - Leptodactylus pentadactylus

Now that rainy season is well underway and all of the little creatures of the night forest are showing up on our doorstep (!) we recently had the chance to photograph this gorgeous specimen of Leptodactylus pentadactylus, locally known as "Rana Toro", and with the fabulous common name of Smoky Jungle Frog. This is one pretty large, pretty fast frog. Too fast even for Nilo! Those markings around its mouth give it a pretty sharp-toothed look too!