Elachistocleis bicolor
Elachistocleis bicolor, also known as the two-colored oval frog (Spanish: rana pinguino or sapito panza amarilla), is a small frog in the Microhylidae family. It is listed as Least Concern for conservation.
Where it lives: This frog is found from central Argentina north through Paraguay and Uruguay to Amazonian Brazil. Earlier records from Bolivia likely refer to a similar species (E. haroi). It is common in seasonally flooded grasslands and in dry to moist forests, and it can also live in rural gardens and urban areas.
What it’s like: Elachistocleis bicolor is nocturnal and semi-fossorial (partly living underground). During dry periods it estivates and can hide inside ant and termite nests.
Size and color: Males are about 23–32 mm long, females about 27–36 mm. It has a two-color pattern with a brownish back and a yellow belly.
Diet: It mainly eats ants and termites, with other insects making smaller contributions. In Uruguay, termites are more important when the frogs are inactive, while ants (especially Pheidole and Solenopsis) are more important when they’re active.
Reproduction: Breeding occurs in the wet season in pools with standing water. About 620 eggs are laid, and the number of eggs increases with female size. The eggs float on the water surface.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 09:16 (CET).