Translucent and elusive, the Spiny Cochran frog (Teratohyla spinosa) inhabits lowland primary humid forests of Central and South America, including Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador. It is typically found at elevations between 20 and 800 meters (66 to 2,625 feet) above sea level, particularly in areas near fast-flowing streams that support its breeding.

Like other glass frogs,  Spiny Cochran frog has partially transparent ventral skin, allowing a view of its internal organs—a trait that may provide camouflage against predators by blending with the reflective surfaces of leaves and water droplets. This transparency is not just visually striking; it also illustrates the species’ adaptation to a highly specific ecological niche.

What sets the Spiny Cochran frog apart is the presence of tiny keratinized spines on the dorsal surface of adult males, especially noticeable during the breeding season. These dermal projections are believed to play a role in male–male competition or sexual selection, although their exact function remains under study.

Breeding occurs near torrential forest streams, where males call from the undersides of leaves—a behavior observed in several glassfrog species. Females deposit eggs on these leaves, and upon hatching, the tadpoles drop directly into the water below to continue their development.

Due to their permeable skin and sensitivity to environmental change, Spiny Cochran frogs are considered effective bioindicators. Their presence or decline can reflect the health of tropical ecosystems, making them especially vulnerable to habitat loss, pollution, and climate-driven shifts.

Sources: 

• IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2020). Teratohyla spinosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T56023A54352525.https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/56023/54352525

• Guayasamin, J.M., Cisneros-Heredia, D.F., Maynard, R.J., Lynch, R.L., Culebras, J., Hamilton, P.S., & Kiamco, M.M. (2020). Glassfrogs (Centrolenidae). In: Amphibians of Ecuador: Life in the Middle of the World.[Print source; no direct online link available]

• Delia, J., Bravo-Valencia, L., & Warkentin, K.M. (2017). Patterns of parental care in Neotropical glassfrogs: Fieldwork alters hypotheses of sex-role evolution. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 30(5), 898–914.https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13055

• Blaustein, A.R., Romansic, J.M., Kiesecker, J.M., & Hatch, A.C. (2011). The complexity of amphibian population declines: Understanding the role of multiple stressors in driving amphibian losses. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1223(1), 108–119.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05909.x

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