The American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), often simply known as the Bullfrog in Canada and the United States, is an aquatic frog, a member of the family Ranidae, or "true frogs", native to much of North America. This is a frog of larger, permanent water bodies, swamps, ponds, lakes, where it is usually found along the water's edge. On rainy nights, bullfrogs along with many other amphibians, go overland and may be seen in numbers on country roads.American bullfrogs live longer in warm weather.
Ten Facts about American Bullfrog
- Bullfrogs grow on average to be about 3 and a half to 6 inches (9-15 cm) long in body length.
- These frogs absorb oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide through their moist skin, the lining of the mouth, and the lungs.
- When in the air, as opposed to underwater, frogs continuously elevate and lower the floor of the mouth, which serves to ventilate the mouth.
- In the mating grasp, or amplexus, the male rides on top of the female, grasping her with his forelimbs posterior to her forelimbs.
- Breeding begins in late spring or early summer.
- Males make a call. The call is reminiscent of the roar of a bull, hence the frog's common name.
- A female may produce up to 20,000 eggs in one clutch.
- Eggs hatch in 3-5 days.
- Maximum lifespan in the wild is estimated at 8-10 years, but one captive lived almost 16 years.
- Bullfrog stomachs have been found to contain rodents, small turtles, snakes, frogs-including bullfrogs, birds, even a bat, as well as the many invertebrates which are the usual food of ranid frogs.
