Quote Originally Posted by GrifTheGreat View Post
Just a theory of mine, but perhaps they only gather to breed in the wild every 2 to 3 years and that's why they refuse to lay the eggs. Also it could be that they travel to the same exact spot where they were born like a lot of other animals do and this task cannot be performed in captivity so the female refuses to lay.

Just a theory with no scientific proof to back it. So little is known about this species in the wild so it would be hard to say exactly why the females refuse. It is a possibility. Bullfrogs return to the same pond where they were born most of the time so its not a far stretch to assume this possibility as well.
If WC Cornuta refuse to breed in captivities, then that could very well be the case. Although Cornuta may be philopatric, that still does not explain WC frogs are able to breed in captivities. That's an interesting thought nonetheless. Actually combining what Mike & lumpbump said the answer may lie in the native seasonality of these frogs do make sense, which is the only major difference between a WC and a CB Cornuta.

Perhaps they need a couple seasonal changes to get their hormones to kick in? If I were interested in creating a breeding program/trial that definately would be one of my variables.
I agree and it's totally possible that the seasonal changes in extended period of dryness, humidity, and temperature may alter the hormonal level in these frogs, and hence the desire for breeding. So without this "conditioning," female Cornuta would not even want to breed, although completely capable of breeding.

The females refuse to lay the eggs.
After Mike had said this, it confirmed another idea I had before, but it's nothing more than a hypothesis---Maybe that Cornuta's egg production in females needs to be triggered by the seasonal changes. Furthermore, those specific native dryness, humidity, and temperature may start the biochemical pathway in egg production. In other words, CB female Cornuta are not unwilling to initiate the act of breeding, it's rather that they are incapable of breeding (they have no eggs in them).

Ah this is fascinating I wish I can get a job in a lab working with Cornuta, lol Wouldn't that be perfect?