How the Gladiator Tree Frog Earned Its Name
Gladiator tree frog is a deserving title for a frog that utilizes a prepollex spine, located in their hands, to protect their eggs from other males.
See more of Costa Rica's charismatic wildlife in
Untamed from Nat Geo Wild. Follow filmmaker Filipe DeAndrade and his two best friends as they travel throughout Costa Rica in search of the most diverse, iconic and unexpected animal species the country has to offer.
They can be found in lowlands of central and southern Costa Rica.
They have a loud call that can be heard from the canopy.
Males use this to attract females into mating nests. If she approves of the nest, they'll mate.
Males use a prepollex spine, located in their hands, to protect their eggs from other males.
Because they're willing to battle for their offspring, "Gladiator Tree Frog" is an appropriate name for this male.
