African bullfrog

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, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] It has long been confused with the edible bullfrog (P. edulis) and species boundaries between them, including exact range limits, are not fully understood.[1][2] Additionally, P. angusticeps of coastal East Africa only was revalidated as a separate species in 2013.[2]

African bullfrog
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Pyxicephalidae
Genus: Pyxicephalus
Species:
P. adspersus
Binomial name
Pyxicephalus adspersus
Tschudi, 1838

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 frogs, with males weighing up to 1.4 kg (3.1 lb). Females are half the size of males, which is unusual since in most amphibian species females are larger than males, to help the amplexus. Males can reach 24.5 cm (9.6 in) in snout–to–vent length, while females are much smaller.[3][4][5][6]

Feeding and habits

The African bullfrog is a voracious carnivore, eating insects, small rodents, reptiles, small birds, and other amphibians.[4] It is also a cannibalistic species—the male African bullfrog is known for occasionally eating the tadpoles he guards.[7] An African bullfrog kept at the Pretoria Zoo in South Africa once ate 17 Juvenile Rinkhals Snakes (Hemachatus haemachatus).[8] 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.[9]

Reproduction

Breeding starts after heavy rain (initiated by 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.[10]

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.[11] Males have two breeding strategies, depending on their age. Young males congregate in a small area, perhaps only 1 or 2 m2 (11 or 22 sq ft) of shallow water. The larger males occupy the center of these breeding arenas or leks and attempt to chase off other males. Often, they fight, causing injury or even killing one another. The dominant male attempts to prevent other males from breeding. A female approaches the group of males by swimming along at the surface until she is within a few meters of the group. Then the female dives to avoid the smaller males and surfaces in the defended area of a larger male in the middle of the group. This helps to ensure that she mates with the dominant male.[10]

The female lays about 3,000 to 4,000 eggs at a time. The tadpoles hatch and after two days start feeding on vegetation, small fish, invertebrates, and even each other. Defending males continue to watch over the tadpoles, which metamorphose within three weeks. During the tadpole's development, the father guards his young. Due to the male bullfrog's overprotective behavior, he pounces and bites anything that he views as a threat. If the pool is in danger of drying out, the father uses his legs and head to dig a canal from the drying pond to a bigger pond. He continues to guard the tadpoles until they are old enough to fend for themselves, although he may also eat some of them.[10][12]

Pet trade

The African bullfrog is an exotic pet in many countries around the world. Animals sold are generally bred in captivity. It is not unusual for pet African bullfrogs to live for 35 years in captivity.[4]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Pyxicephalus adspersus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T58535A3070700. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T58535A3070700.en.
  2. Scott, E.; J.D. Visser; C.A. Yetman; L. Oliver; D.G. Broadley (2013). "Revalidation of Pyxicephalus angusticeps Parry, 1982 (Anura: Natatanura: Pyxicephalidae), a bullfrog endemic to the lowlands of eastern Africa". Zootaxa. 3599 (3): 201–228. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3599.3.1. hdl:2263/57608. PMID 24613871.
  3. Evans S, Groenke J, Jones M, Turner A, Krause D (2014). "New Material of Beelzebufo, a Hyperossified Frog (Amphibia: Anura) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar". PLOS ONE. 9 (1): e87236. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...987236E. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0087236. PMC 3905036. PMID 24489877.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Gampper, Terry (2002). "The Natural History and Care of the African Bullfrog". Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  5. Loveridge, Arthur (1950). "History and habits of the East African bullfrog" (PDF). J. East Afr. Nat. Hist. Soc. 19: 253–275. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  6. Bishop, P. (19 October 2004). "Pyxicephalus adspersus". AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  7. "Bronberg: African bullfrog haven". 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  8. Branch, W. R. (1976). "Two exceptional food records for the African bullfrog, Pyxicephalus adspersus (Amphibia, Anura, Pyxicephalidae)". Journal of Herpetology. 10 (3): 266–268. doi:10.2307/1562997. JSTOR 1562997.
  9. Balinsky, J. B. (1954). "On the breeding habits of the South African bullfrog Pyxicephalus adspersus". South African Journal of Science. 51 (2): 55–58.
  10. "African Bullfrog - Pyxicephalus adspersus". World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Archived from the original on 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  11. "African Bullfrog - Pyxicephalus adspersus - Details". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  12. Cook, C.L.; Ferguson, Jan W.H.; Telford, S.R. (June 2001). "Adaptive male parental care in the giant bullfrog, Pyxicephalus adspersus". Journal of Herpetology. 35 (2): 310. doi:10.2307/1566122. JSTOR 1566122.
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