#Pyxicephalidae

[herpsandbirds]

African Bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus), family Pyxicephalidae, males fighting during mating season, South Africa

photograph by Christian Passeri

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

There’s nothing more comfortable than sleeping in your own bed-- especially when the bed is made of your skin! That’s why, in the dry season, the African bullfrog sheds layers of its skin to build a watertight cocoon around itself which it hibernates in until the rains return.

(Image: A male giant bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) being examined, by Benjamin Tapely)

[guard-en]

hello african bullfrog also known as the pixie frog as a shortened version of its taxonomic title pyxicephalus adspersus, of the family pyxicephalidae, root latin meaning rounded (boxy) 'pyxis' head 'kephale'. the adspersus species monicker meaning scattered or well distributed, as the african bullfrog very well is. the diecious nature of the sexes within the species presents itself with the males being much larger than the females, as well as being one of the longer if not the longest living species of frog, with a chance of living 40-45 years in ideal conditions.

[frogs-from-bogs]

Cacosternum australis by Tyrone James Ping

[deathtek]

10/2/20

[rbbox]

African bullfrog

African bullfrog

The African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) is a species of frog in the Pyxicephalidae family. It is also known as the pixie frog due to its Latin 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. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, intermittent freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, and canals and ditches. This is a large frog, with males weighing 1.4 kg (3.1 lb), though can easily exceed 2 kg (4.4 lb); females are half the size, making it unique among frogs, as in most amphibians females are usually larger than males. Males can reach 23 cm (9 inches) while females are much smaller.

Feeding and habits

The African bullfrog is carnivorous and a voracious eater, eating insects, small rodents, reptiles, small birds and other amphibians. It is also a cannibalistic species — the male African bullfrog is known for occasionally eating the tadpoles he guards. This frog is also aggressive and has been known to bite when provoked. An African bullfrog kept at the Pretoria Zoo in South Africa once ate 17 Juvenile Rinkhals Snakes (Hemachatus haemachatus). They emit a loud croaking and a bleating sound when stressed or handled. Like the Pacman frogs and the Budgett's Frogs, African Bullfrogs also bite when they are provoked. It is one of three frog species that have sharp teeth and bite humans when they are provoked or handled by humans (when they are getting picked up by humans using their hands to lift them up).

Reproduction

Breeding starts after heavy rain (initiated by 65 mm of rain over the previous day or two). 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 level. The African bullfrog males call out during the rainy season. The call lasts about a second and can be described as a deep low-pitched whoop. Males have two breeding strategies, depending on their age. Young males congregate in a small area, perhaps only 1 or 2 square meters 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 and 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. The female lays about 3,000 to 4,000 eggs at a time. The tadpoles hatch and after two days start feasting on vegetation, small fish, invertebrates and even each other. Defending males will continue to watch over the tadpoles, which will metamorphose within three weeks. During the tadpole's development, the father guards his young. He will pounce and bite anything that he views as a threat. If the pool is in danger of drying out, the father will use his legs and head to dig a canal from the drying pond to a bigger pond. He will continue to guard the tadpoles until they are old enough to fend for themselves, although he may also eat some of them.

In pet trade

The African bullfrog is an exotic pet in many countries around the world, and owning it is not prohibited by any laws. Animals sold are generally bred in captivity. It is not unusual for pet African Bullfrogs to live for 35 years in captivity.

In popular culture

In the film Jurassic Park, dinosaurs are cloned for a theme park and are kept from breeding because each one is cloned to be a female. Dr. Grant said that in a same-sex environment, certain kinds of West African frogs can change their sex. The genetic coding of the dinosaur DNA is completed with the DNA of a frog and as a result, the dinosaurs change their sex in order to breed. Whether West African Bullfrogs can actually do this is not as yet known. In My Gym Partner's a Monkey, Principal Pixiefrog is an African bullfrog. source - Wikipedia Dear friends, if you liked our post, please do not forget to share and comment like this. If you want to share your information with us, please send us your post with your name and photo at RBbox.in@gmail.com. We will publish your post with your name and photo. thanks for joining us www.rbbox.in

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[bionerds-co-za]

Karoo Caco's are one of our data deficient frog species in South Africa. They are known from only a handful, widely seperated, populations in the arid Karoo region of the Northern and Western Cape. This is an uncommon small frog species that reaches a total length of up to 30mm, and are typically found in dry or pooled riverbeds and seepages in karoid areas. Family : Pyxicephalidae Genus : Cacosternum Family : Cacosternum karooicum Common name : Karoo Caco / Karooblikslanertjie #canon #canon_global #canonphotography #photography #photodocumentary #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #herpetology #herps #frog #frogsofinstagram #frogs #amphibian #ishootwithorms #EcoExploration #biodiversity #bionerds #caco #amphibians #southafrica #africa #photooftheday (at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve)

[herpsandbirds]

African Bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus), 2 males try to mate with a female, family Pyxicephalidae, found in southern Africa

Unlike most species of frog, African Bullfrog males are larger than the females.

photograph by Temujin Johnson

[herpsandbirds]

Beytell's African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus beytelli), family Pyxicephalidae, southern Africa

Newly discovered, 2024.

photograph via: Preez et al. doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2023.2296654 

[herpsandbirds]

African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus), family Pyxicephalidae, found in southern Africa

UNHAND OF ME HUMAN!!!

photograph by Marcie Ryan

[herpsandbirds]

African Bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus), family Pyxicephalidae, males calling and fighting during mating season, South Africa

photograph by Johan Marais

[herpsandbirds]

Edible Bullfrog aka Lesser Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus edulis), family Pyxicephalidae, Kruger National Park, Limpopo, South Africa

photograph by Chad Keates

[herpsandbirds]

Tremolo Sand Frog (Tomopterna adiastola), family Pyxicephalidae, Pretoria East, Gauteng, South Africa

photograph by Johan Marais

[herpsandbirds]

African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus), juvenile, family Pyxicephalidae, found in southern Africa

photograph by C&T Exotics - Bovingdon

[herpsandbirds]

Edible Bullfrog aka Lesser Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus edulis), family Pyxicephalidae, Limpopo, South Africa

photograph by Johan Marais - World of Reptiles

[herpsandbirds]

African Bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus), family Pyxicephalidae, males calling and fighting during mating season, Free State, South Africa

photograph by Johan Marais - World of Reptiles