Wildlifeof China
American Bullfrog
True Frogs & Fanged Frogs
Photo: (c) Nell Cant, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Lithobates catesbeianus
Basic stats
Diet
Snakes, worms, insects, crustaceans, frogs, tadpoles, aquatic eggs, and occasionally other vertebrates; tadpoles mainly graze aquatic plants
Habitat
Warm, still, shallow freshwater in lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps, and bogs
Range
Native to eastern and central North America; introduced to western North America, southern Europe, South America, and Asia
Clutch size
Up to 20,000 eggs
Incubation period
About 4 days to hatching
Size
Typically 90–152 mm long; exceptionally larger
Weight
Up to 0.5 kg
The American bullfrog is a large aquatic frog native to eastern and central North America and introduced widely elsewhere, including Asia. It remains closely associated with freshwater and prefers warm, shallow, relatively still areas of lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps, and bogs. Typical adults measure about 90 to 152 millimetres, although larger individuals occur, and weight can reach approximately half a kilogram. Their coloration ranges from brownish tones to green, often accompanied by darker spots or blotches. (Animal Diversity Web)
Bullfrogs are opportunistic sit-and-wait predators that consume insects, worms, crustaceans, frogs, tadpoles, snakes, aquatic eggs, and occasionally other vertebrates. Their tadpoles feed mainly on aquatic vegetation. Females deposit as many as 20,000 externally fertilized eggs in a floating, foamy film over quiet protected water. Tadpoles hatch after roughly four days but may remain in the larval stage for nearly three years before metamorphosis. Adults are active during both day and night when conditions are warm and moist. (Animal Diversity Web)
Quick answers
- What does the American Bullfrog eat?
- Snakes, worms, insects, crustaceans, frogs, tadpoles, aquatic eggs, and occasionally other vertebrates; tadpoles mainly graze aquatic plants
- What habitat does the American Bullfrog live in?
- Warm, still, shallow freshwater in lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, swamps, and bogs
- Where is the American Bullfrog found?
- Native to eastern and central North America; introduced to western North America, southern Europe, South America, and Asia
- How many eggs does the American Bullfrog lay?
- Up to 20,000 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the American Bullfrog incubated?
- About 4 days to hatching
- How big is the American Bullfrog?
- Typically 90–152 mm long; exceptionally larger
- How much does the American Bullfrog weigh?
- Up to 0.5 kg