Fauna
Amphibian

African Clawed Frog

Xenopus laevis

Also known as Platanna, African Clawed Toad, African Claw-toed Frog, Smooth Clawed Frog

African clawed frogs are entirely aquatic amphibians famous for their flattened bodies, lidless upward-facing eyes, and powerful, fully webbed hind feet tipped with sharp cornified black claws. Lacking a tongue and vocal cords, males produce rapid underwater clicking sounds by contracting specialized laryngeal muscles to court mates during breeding periods. They use their sensitive lateral line systems to detect vibrations from struggling prey in murky water, sweeping food directly into their mouths with their dexterous front fingers.

AquaticNocturnalCarnivorous
African Clawed Frog reference1 / 7
(c) Brian Gratwicke, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMosquito larvae, Earthworms, Small fish
Predators
  • Herons
  • Water snakes
  • Larger predatory fish
ThreatsPollution, habitat destruction, and localized eradication programs where introduced as an invasive species
HabitatsWarm, stagnant or slow-moving freshwater ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and ditches
Life span10–20 years
Classification
  1. OrderAnura
  2. FamilyPipidae
  3. GenusXenopus
  4. SpeciesXenopus laevis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Look along the muddy margins of warm ponds or ditch edges where frogs hover near the surface to breathe.
  • Biosecurity: Never release pet frogs into natural waterways because they displace native amphibians and carry chytrid fungus.
  • Handling: Minimize handling because their skin is extremely slippery and secretes protective mucus that dries out quickly.
Related species
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