The African bullfrog is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is also known as the pixie frog due to its scientific name. The bullfrog can be found in an amazing variety of habitats in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s found as far east as Somalia, as far west as Nigeria, and south into South Africa. Though they are amphibians, African bullfrogs can live in climates that stay dry for years. They can live in the mountains but are probably happiest near bodies of water. The secret to their adaptability is that they dig chambers in the soil when the climate becomes too harsh, enter the chambers and estivate until conditions are more favorable.
The frog eats snakes, reptiles, amphibians, insects, mice, other small mammals, and small birds. They are not above eating each other, and it is rather common for a bullfrog tadpole to start eating its brothers and sisters when it emerges from the egg. A father bullfrog will sometimes make a meal of some of the eggs or tadpoles he is guarding. Tadpoles grow to young frogs in about three weeks. If it survives infancy, this bullfrog has been known to live as long as 45 years.
Though the exact population of African bullfrogs is unknown, its conservation status is “Least Concern,” though its population is declining.
