:quality(80))
Sleeping Beauty
"The African bullfrog sometimes sleeps underground for more than a year, safely wrapped in a cocoon of its own skin."
Discover in real lifeHabitat:
arid regions of southern and western Africa
Food:
insects, frogs, reptiles and small mammals
Lifespan:
20 to 40 years
Weight:
1 to 2 kg
Number of eggs:
4.000 eggs
Incubation period:
2 days
IUCN status:
safe
EEP:
no
About the African bullfrog
The African bullfrog lives in dry areas in southern and western Africa During droughts, it burrows in and sleeps for months in a cocoon of its own skin. Only when it rains does it become active again. This frog will eat anything that fits in its mouth: insects, reptiles, small mammals and even conspecifics. It can live 20 to 40 years and weighs up to 2 kg. After laying about 4,000 eggs, the female leaves. The male stays behind to guard the eggs. He protects them and even digs a channel when the puddle dries up. But when he gets hungry, he sometimes eats his own young.
Habitat and threats
The African bullfrog lives in arid and semi-arid areas in southern and western Africa, such as savannas and grasslands. Despite the dry climate, it can be found near temporary pools and ponds, where it burrows to retain moisture during dry periods. This frog can survive underground for months in a kind of slime cocoon until the rains return.
Although the African bullfrog is not currently considered endangered, its habitat is becoming smaller in some places. Due to deforestation, agriculture and urbanization, more and more natural water sources are disappearing. They are also sometimes captured for the exotic pet trade or used in local kitchens. If these pressures increase, it could affect their numbers in the wild in the future.