African Bullfrog (Burrowing Frog)

NAME:

African Bullfrog (Burrowing Frog)

ORDER:

Anura

GENUS:

Pyxicephalus

SPECIES:

adspersus

LENGTH:

up to 12 cm (females); up to 24 cm (males)

WEIGHT:

up to 2 lbs

LIFESPAN:

up to 40; it takes 28 years to reach full size

DIET:

Termites, grasshoppers, crickets and millipedes and sometimes larger items such as mice, lizards, birds, and snakes

PREDATORS:

adults have few predators; snakes, lizards, birds, crocodiles, and turtles prey upon young frogs

RANGE

It is found from the eastern regions of Somalia to South Africa and westward to Nigeria.

HABITAT

Most often small puddles in open grassland, but it is also found in the Kalahari Desert and the sandy regions of central Namibia as well as the highveld domains in the Transvaal.

CHARACTERISTICS

This is the second largest African frog. It has dull green skin and a broad head and body. The females are lighter green in color than the males. The male usually has a yellow throat while the female’s throat is cream color. It has toothlike projections on its lower jaw to restrain struggling prey. Only its hind toes are webbed.

BEHAVIOR

African Burrowing frogs can be quite aggressive. Male bullfrogs protecting tadpoles may also feed upon them and larger siblings may eat their smaller siblings when food is limited.

REPRODUCTION

African bullfrogs are sexually mature at 8 years of age. Following heavy summer rains the bullfrog emerges from its burrow underground to breed. Male frogs develop swollen pads on their forelimbs and thumbs which he uses to grasp the females. Males congregate and call from a breeding site in shallow water, attracting females which then lay their eggs in the water. As she lays her eggs, he fertilizes them. Up to 4000 eggs are laid and the fertilized eggs hatch in two days. The male remains at the breeding site and protects the tadpoles. Metamorphosis takes about three weeks. When the pool dries up, both adult and young frogs burrow underground.