Green Invaders

More than a century ago, American bullfrogs were introduced into the western United States in hopes that they could be farmed for food. Although the farming efforts failed, the bullfrog adapted to man-made ponds and waterways and is now a threat to native species of fish, snakes, birds, and other frogs—some of them endangered.

<div class="inlineCaptionedImageFloat" style="width: 300px;"> <div class="ezxmltag-embed embed ezc-image"> <picture> <source data-srcset="/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/amnh/import_exhibits/import_exhibit_images/amer_bullfrog_med.jpg/232682-1-eng-US/amer_bullfrog_med.jpg_full_610.jpg" media="(min-width: 835px)"> <source data-srcset="/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/amnh/import_exhibits/import_exhibit_images/amer_bullfrog_med.jpg/232682-1-eng-US/amer_bullfrog_med.jpg_full_990.jpg" media="(min-width: 710px)"> <source data-srcset="/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/amnh/import_exhibits/import_exhibit_images/amer_bullfrog_med.jpg/232682-1-eng-US/amer_bullfrog_med.jpg_full_610.jpg" media="(min-width: 0px)"> <img class=" lazyload " src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="amer_bullfrog_med.jpg"> <noscript><img src="/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/amnh/import_exhibits/import_exhibit_images/amer_bullfrog_med.jpg/232682-1-eng-US/amer_bullfrog_med.jpg_full_610.jpg" alt="amer_bullfrog_med.jpg"></noscript> </picture> </div> <p> © <span class="imgCred"> Joe McDonald, Clyde Peeling's Reptiland</span></p> </div>

American Bullfrog

Rana catesbeiana

Class: Amphibia
Family: Ranidae
Size: 3½ to 8 inches
Food: Insects, crayfish, frogs, fish, small mammals, birds
Range: Eastern and central U.S.; introduced in the western U.S
Habitat: Aquatic; ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams
Life Cycle: Females lay up to 20,000 eggs in long strings. Tadpoles take up to two years to metamorphose.