American Bullfrog

§ Quick facts

§ Encyclopedia

The American bullfrog, often simply known as the bullfrog in Canada and the United States, is a large true frog native to eastern North America. It typically inhabits large permanent water bodies such as swamps, ponds, and lakes. Bullfrogs can also be found in manmade habitats such as pools, koi ponds, canals, ditches, reservoirs and culverts. The bullfrog gets its name from the sound the male makes during the breeding season, which sounds similar to a bull bellowing. They are generalist carnivores, consuming a wide variety of prey. In turn, they are eaten by predators such as alligators, snakes, and birds.

Source: Wikipedia — American bullfrog · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Olive-green to brown; large eardrum (tympanum).

Similar species. Green Frog (smaller). Pig Frog (very similar; pointed snout).

Voice. Deep "jug-o-rum" call.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Voracious generalist: insects, smaller frogs, fish, snakes, mice.

Behavior. Largest native US frog. Aggressive ambush predator. Invasive west of native range.

§ Range

Native to eastern North America; invasive across western US

§ Habitat

Ponds, lakes, slow rivers, marshes

§ Threats

In native range: habitat loss, chytrid fungus. In invaded range: they ARE the threat to natives.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the american bullfrog is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

In west: report bullfrogs to wildlife agencies. Don't move frogs between waterways. Buy frog legs only from regulated sources.

§ Further reading

• Wikipedia — American bullfrog
• www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Lithobates catesbeianus
• IUCN Red List · taxon 58565
• iNaturalist · taxon 66317
• GBIF occurrence records
• Encyclopedia of Life — Lithobates catesbeianus

§ Sources cited

• USGS ARMI
• AmphibiaWeb
• iNaturalist
• IUCN Red List 2014