american bullfrog

American bullfrog is an aquatic frog which needs water to survive. “Water” is one of the most essential necessities to survive. The aquatic life is full of mysteries and scientists have been continuously trying to unfold these under water mysteries. As water surrounds over 3/4^th on earth, it contains many species. In addition, these species under water have different ecology and behaviors. Their ecology and behaviors are very interesting when it is unfolded.

One of the most interesting species is the “American Bullfrog”, most commonly known as “Bullfrog” in United States and Canada. It is a frog, which belongs to the family of “Ranidae”. It is found in North America. It likes to live in water and can be found anywhere in lakes, ponds or swamps.

AMERICAN BULLFROG FACTS

This type of frog is basically green or gray-brown and has brown spots with circular eardrums. They are amphibians and it is basically a carnivore. It can live up to an average life span of 8 to 10 years. Its size can differ up to (3.5 to 3.6 inches) of an adult female and weight can be up to 0.50 kg. A female of these species can lay up to 20,000 eggs. The male bullfrogs make a sound, which resembles to the mooing sound of a cow, and that is why it is called as “bullfrog”. One can hear the deep-pitched sound of a bullfrog from more than a quarter-mile away. It is basically found in United States and Canada.

ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

These frogs dig into mud and go to hibernation in cold seasons as they like warm weather. Moreover, in warm weather they emerge again from mud.

Respiration:

The Bullfrog likes to live in water and they breathe through their moist skin. They absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide through their moist skin and through their lungs and lining of  the mouth.

Reproduction:

These frogs have external fertilization. In the mating process, male rides on the top of the female and hold her with his forelimbs. Simultaneously the female releases its eggs and male releases its sperms in water. The breeding season in these species is late spring or early summer.

Growth and Development

After fertilization, the egg hatches in 3 to 5 days. In the southern parts, metamorphosis time is few months and in northern region it is around 3 years. The normal life span is 8 to 10 years.

Food of Bullfrog

These frogs just eat anything that fits in their mouth. They can eat rodents, frogs, snakes, small turtles, birds, and even more species. However, they mainly eat fish, tadpoles, snails and beetles. They have fleshy mucous-coated tongue to catch their prey.

Bullfrog for human use or “bull frog recipe”

These bullfrogs are cultured as pet in the ponds in America. They are hunted silently at night by paddling or using a float boat. The whole frog is not eaten, only their rear legs are eaten. The American bullfrog is used in schools for dissection too. Thus, this interesting frog has an interesting role to play both in water and in human beings life.