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Rana catesbeuanus |
Physical DescriptionBullfrogs found in North America weigh up to .4 kg and measure 90-152 mm, at the largest 203 mm. Bullfrogs are greenish brown with darker spots of color on its back. Bullfrogs hind feet are fully webbed. A fold of skin stretches from the eye around the eardrum. Male bullfrogs have a yellow throat. Also, the eardrums on males are larger than the eyes, while the female's eardrums are the same size as the eyes.Diet and Feeding HabitsBullfrogs eat snakes, worms, insects, crustaceans, frogs, and tadpoles. They also eat the aquatic eggs of fish, insects, or salamanders. Bullfrogs are canobalists, and carnivores.ReproductionBreeding takes place from May to July in the North and from February to October in the South. Fertilization is external. The females deposit as many as 20,000 eggs protected by a foamy film. Tadpoles emerge after about 4 days. It can take up to 3 years before they turn into frogs.HabitatBullfrogs live in water (lakes, ponds, rivers, bogs etc...) (Bullfrogs do not live in saltwater). Bullfrogs like warm weather.Role in the EcosystemBullfrogs eat insects, small fish, and other small aquatic and terrestrial animals. In turn they provide food for fish, some large insects, snakes, lizards, birds, and small omnivorous, and carnivorous mammals. The Bullfrog is nocturnal, meaning that they hunt at night. Bullfrogs can also be found hunting during the day and sunbathing on rocks. Bullfrogs hibernate in the winter by burying themselves in mud. Bullfrogs are carnivorous, meaning that they only eat meat. Bullfrogs will eat about anything that they can find, and won't stop at eating other Bullfrogs.Bibliographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfroghttp://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_catesbeiana.html http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/FrogNotes3.html http://natureali.org/bullfrog.htm |
Bullfrog