Spike-Nosed Tree Frogs: What We Know
Spike-nosed tree frogs are treefrogs from New Guinea with a pointed spike of skin on the snout. The name covers a small group of related species, such as the Efogi treefrog and Exochohyla chrisdahli, not one pet-trade frog. Published detail is thin: the sources reviewed give ranges and relationships but little about diet, lifespan or care.
The slug and title of this page point to “spike-nosed” tree frogs. That name is used in scientific literature for New Guinea treefrogs with a rostral spike, so this guide covers them.
Older web pages sometimes link the name to the Amazon or Central America. We found no source for that, so we left it out. Where the evidence is thin, this page says so.
How this was made: prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed at the end. Images are AI-generated illustrations, not photographs of real animals or products.
Key Takeaways
- The spike is a skin projection on the snout, reported in a small group of New Guinea treefrogs.
- The Efogi treefrog (Exochohyla prora) is known from two localities in the central ranges of Papua New Guinea.
- Exochohyla chrisdahli is known only from its type locality in the Sepik Basin.
- A 2025 revision moved these frogs into the genus Exochohyla.
- Care, diet and lifespan data were not found in the sources reviewed.
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What “spike-nosed” means
A 2007 paper in Zootaxa describes a new “spike-nosed” frog from northern New Guinea. The author notes it was the sixth Australopapuan hylid known to have a dermal projection on the snout.
That frog, now Exochohyla chrisdahli, is most similar to Litoria prora and Litoria humboldtorum. It is smaller than those relatives and has reduced skin flaps on the limbs and a distinctive advertisement call.
Species and range
The table lists the two species where we could open a reliable record. Ranges come from Amphibian Species of the World and the original description.
| Species | Known range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Efogi treefrog (Exochohyla prora) | Upper Kikori River and Efogi, Owen Stanley Range, Papua New Guinea, about 1,200 m | Likely extends into eastern Papua, Indonesia. Isolated records exist from the Fakfak Peninsula. |
| Exochohyla chrisdahli | Wamangu, East Sepik Province, Sepik Basin, 180 m | Known only from its type locality. Described in 2007 as Litoria chrisdahli. |
Why the scientific name changed
Efogi treefrog was first described as Hyla prora in 1969. Later authors moved it to Litoria, and a 2025 revision placed it in Exochohyla.
That revision, by Donnellan and colleagues in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, split the Australo-Papuan treefrogs into more genera. It separates Exochohyla from a related genus by the presence of a rostral spike.
Because names keep changing, search for both Litoria and Exochohyla when you look for records.
Not a tomato frog and not a pet species
The sources reviewed describe these frogs as wild New Guinea species. None describes them as pets, and none gives care guidance from a vet college, zoo or herpetological society.
Rules for collecting and exporting wildlife vary by country. If you are unsure, ask the wildlife agency of the country involved. For care of captive amphibians in general, see an exotics vet through the ARAV directory.
What is still unknown
Basic natural history is missing from the pages we could open.
- Habitat details for E. prora and E. chrisdahli were not stated.
- Adult sizes were not given in the records we could read.
- Diet and lifespan were not recorded.
- Population trends were not reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a spike-nosed tree frog?
It is a New Guinea treefrog with a pointed skin spike on the snout. The name is used for a few related species, not just one.
Where do spike-nosed tree frogs live?
The two species we could verify live in Papua New Guinea. E. prora is in the central ranges, and E. chrisdahli is known from the Sepik Basin lowlands.
Is the spike-nosed tree frog the same as the tomato frog?
No source links them. Older pages that do so are unsourced, so we did not repeat the claim.
Can you keep one as a pet?
No source reviewed describes them as pets. Wildlife rules vary, so check with the relevant wildlife agency first.
Why do some sources say Litoria and others Exochohyla?
A 2025 revision of Australo-Papuan treefrogs moved several species into new genera, including Exochohyla.
Are they endangered?
We did not find a conservation status in the sources opened. Check the IUCN Red List for each species.
Bottom Line
Spike-nosed tree frogs are a good example of how little is documented about some New Guinea amphibians. What exists is mostly taxonomy and range records.
If you know of a peer-reviewed field study on these frogs, it would fill the gaps above. For better-documented treefrogs, see our guides to the American green tree frog range and gray tree frog lifespan.
Sources
- Richards (2007), Zootaxa 1525: A new species of spike-nosed frog from northern New Guinea, accessed Original description of the species now called Exochohyla chrisdahli
- Amphibian Species of the World: Exochohyla prora, accessed Range and common name of the Efogi treefrog
- Amphibian Species of the World: Exochohyla chrisdahli, accessed Type locality and relationships
- Donnellan et al. (2025), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 204: generic revision of the Australo-Papuan treefrogs, accessed Genus revision, via the Zenodo treatment record
