African Bullfrog

This huge, aggressive frog is a member of the Ranidae family and one of the largest frogs in the world. Also known as the Pixie frog, due to its Latin name, the African Bullfrog is found throughout the African continent.

In fact, it exists in large numbers in all of the following countries – Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nambia, South Africa , Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

The African Bullfrog, which often weighs over 2 kilograms (about 4.4 pounds) and grows as large as 9 inches, lives – and thrives – primarily in dry and moist savannas, tropical and subtropical marshes, freshwater lakes, canals and ditches.
The male, which has a dull green color and a yellow throat, is generally larger than the female which is also colored dull green, but with a cream-colored throat. The fact that the male is larger than the female makes this species of frog different from most other species.

African Bullfrogs are carnivorous and voracious and are always looking for food. They have sharp teeth, are very aggressive and regularly consume insects, small rodents, reptiles and other small amphibians. And they’re extremely aggressive, as well. In fact, these hungry predators will eat just about anything they can fit into their mouths. And they have been known to bite humans who get to close to them.

The typical African Bullfrog is kind of chubby with a round body, a big, broad head, a large mouth and strong and powerful hind legs which it uses to dig holes. It has a strong sense of smell, sight and hearing. And it uses a loud, bellowing call to signal and locate other frogs.

Interestingly, African Bullfrogs hibernate – underground – during the dry season ((which occurs annually throughout Africa)) – for as long as two years. When rainy season arrives, the frog exits its underground resting place to mate and breed. The female frog then lays eggs which hatch quickly – in about two days.

Newly-born tadpoles will then live in water for several weeks, growing larger with each passing day. Those tadpoles that are able to avoid predators and survive the gauntlet of their new watery habitat eventually migrate onto land and a new home in a marsh or ditch or savanna.

Remarkably, the African Bullfrog doesn’t reach full physical maturity until about its twentieth year. And a frog that can avoid predators can live an incredibly long time – up to 35 years or more.

Here is one last note about African Bullfrogs. They make excellent and fascinating exotic pets. Currently, they are extremely popular in Germany, considerably less popular in the United States. No matter. African Bullfrogs are interesting animals and generally affordable for those who want to keep them as pets.

And, as is true for any pet, if you choose to buy an African Bullfrog, you can give it a name as exotic as its nature and background. All you have to do is let your imagination take over.