Adult: Species description based on Savage (2002). A medium-sized foamfrog (males to 45 mm, females to 55 mm). Mature males have a two conspicuous dark thumb spines. Dorsal: The dorsal surface is brown, with some darker blotches or other markings. A dark bar or triangular-shaped mark is usually present on the head between the eyes. No dorsolateral folds are present in this species. The upper surfaces of the limbs are sometimes barred. Distinct white spots are present just under the mouth. Ventral: The ventral surface is white, usually with extensive dark mottling. Concealed surfaces: The rear surfaces of the thighs are mottled brown and white. Distinguishing characteristics: Most individuals have brown glands along the lower lateral surface and sometimes on the ventral surface as well. Eye: The upper half of the eye is gold, darkening to brownish in the lower half.
Breeding season: Breeding occurs in temporary bodies of water (Savage 2002). Breeding is concentrated in the early part of the rainy season (Savage 2002). Calling males are often hidden in vegetation (Savage 2002). Egg: Eggs are black and yellow and deposited in a foam nest created as the male kicks air into the jelly deposited along with the eggs by the female (Savage 2002). A single nest may contain as many as 2.000 eggs (Savage 2002). The nest is often constructed just out of water or in shallow depressions near the edge of a main body of water, so that eggs and hatchlings are safe from aquatic predators until heavy rains wash them into larger bodies of water (Savage 2002). Tadpole: The tadpole is black, except for a few lighter regions on the sides and very small white spots on the tail (Savage 2002). The body is oval-shaped, the tail is not particularly long, but the tail fins are more extensive that in some other foamfrog tadpoles (Savage 2002). Tadpoles occur in dense schools (Savage 2002).
Habitat: Lowland and montane forest (including dry forest) as well as open grassy areas and disturbed areas. Call: A metallic "doink" (Fouquette 1960, Heyer 1970, Straughan and Heyer 1976, Lee 1997). Behavior and communication: Males are territorial and will engage in a series of escalating behaviors to deter potential intruders (Brattstrom and Yarnell 1968). Wrestling bouts may end with one male biting the other (Brattstrom and Yarnell 1968). Karyotype: 2N = 22 (Bogart 1974) Type locality: Nicaragua