American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

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American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

The American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) is an aquatic frog native to much of North America.

Conservation Status:


Range/Distribution:


Identifying Characteristics: Plain green or gray net-like pattern on green ground color.
Size: 3.5 to 6 inches (9-15 cm) long in bodylength (although there are records of some as big as 8 inches), legs add another 7-10 inches (17 - 25cm).
Habitat: Larger, permanent water bodies, swamps, ponds, lakes, where it is usually found along the water's edge.
Food: Fish, tadpoles, Planorbid snails, and Dytiscid beetles are the common diet of American Bullfrogs, although studies going back to 1913 suggest the bullfrog preys on any animal it can overpower and stuff down its throat. Bullfrog stomachs have been found to contain rodents, small turtles, snakes, frogs including bullfrogs, birds, even a bat.
Reproduction: Fertilization is external in American Bullfrogs. Breeding begins in late spring or early summer. Males defend and call from territories, attracting females into a territory to mate. A female may produce up to 20,000 eggs in one clutch. Eggs hatch in 3–5 days.
Other Information: The mating call is reminiscent of the roar of a bull, hence the frog's common name.