African bullfrog

Description

The African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is also known as the pixie frog due to its scientific name. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo; it has been extirpated from Eswatini. It has long been confused with the edible bullfrog (P. edulis) and species boundaries between them, including exact range limits, are not fully understood. Additionally, P. angusticeps of coastal East Africa only was revalidated as a separate species in 2013. The natural habitats of the African bullfrog are dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, intermittent freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, canals, and ditches. It is among the largest anurans (third only to the goliath frog and the cane toad), with males weighing up to 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) and reaching 24.5 cm (9.6 in) in snout–to–vent length. Females are half the size of males, which is unusual since in most amphibian species females are larger than males, to help the amplexus. The African bullfrog is a voracious carnivore, eating insects, other invertebrates, small rodents, reptiles, small birds, fish, and other amphibians. It is also a cannibalistic species the male African bullfrog is known for occasionally eating the tadpoles he guards. An African bullfrog kept at the Pretoria Zoo in South Africa once ate 17 juvenile Rinkhals Snakes (Hemachatus haemachatus). They emit a loud croaking and a bleating sound when stressed or handled. It is one of the three frog species regularly kept in captivity that have sharp teeth and willingly bite humans when provoked or handled; the other two are Pacman frogs and Budgett's frogs. Breeding typically starts after about 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain over the course of two days. They breed in shallow, temporary water bodies, such as pools, pans, and ditches. Eggs are laid in the shallow edge of the pond, but fertilization takes place above water. The African bullfrog males call out during the rainy season. The call lasts about a second and can be described as a low-pitched whoop. Males have two breeding strategies, depending on their age. Young males congregate in a small area, perhaps only 1–2 m2 (11–22 sq ft) of shallow water.