Amphibian
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianusAlso known as Bullfrog, North American Bullfrog
American bullfrogs are voracious aquatic predators that swallow virtually anything they can overpower, including insects, crayfish, fish, and small birds. Males establish territories along warm waterlines, producing deep resonant bellows that carry over a kilometer across open marshes. Native to eastern North America, their exceptional adaptability and appetite have allowed introduced populations to thrive across western states and global habitats.
AmphibianAquaticVocal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyInsects, Crayfish, Small Fish
Predators
- Great Blue Heron
- Northern Water Snake
- American Alligator
ThreatsHabitat loss, water pollution, invasive species management
HabitatsLakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, and slow streams
Life span8–10 years in the wild
Classification
- OrderAnura
- FamilyRanidae
- GenusLithobates
- SpeciesLithobates catesbeianus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe from shore; large adults can deliver a harmless nip if grabbed.
Responsible observation
- Night Spotting: Scan vegetated shorelines after dusk with a flashlight to detect their bright eye-shine.
- Listening for Calls: Listen for deep, foghorn-like bellows on warm spring and summer evenings near calm water.
- Skin Protection: Avoid handling to keep sensitive amphibian skin safe from human skin oils and chemicals.
Competitor Cephas / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator Patrick Coin (Patrick Coin) / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Green Frog" by AER Wilmington DE is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative "Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)" by acryptozoo is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain
Wetland Territory
American Bullfrog is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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