Details
Lithobates catesbeianus
The American bullfrog is a large frog of Nearctic freshwater habitats. It is a solitary nocturnal carnivore with a broad prey range.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It lives in ponds, lakes, wetlands, and slow water. Vegetated banks and prey-rich freshwater edges suit it well.
Body length is about 9-20 cm and weight about 300-800 g. Large eardrums, strong hind legs, and green to brown coloration are typical.
It is nocturnal and solitary. It waits at the water's edge and leaps into water when alarmed.
It is carnivorous, eating insects, fish, smaller frogs, and other animals it can swallow. Its diet is notably broad for a frog.
Males give deep calls to attract females. Eggs form floating masses, and tadpoles develop in the water.
Its conservation status is LC. In introduced areas it can affect native wildlife, so local management may be important.
