AmericanBullFrog

American Bullfrog (Formerly Bullfrog)

Scientific Name: Lithobates catesbianus
(Formerly: Rana catesbeianus)
Family: Ranidae Return to Frog and Toad Identification

Description & Size


  • Slimly, smooth skin
  • Extremely long hind legs
  • No lines (dorsolateral folds) that extends from head to the rear of the body on either side of the body
  • Large external eardrum (tympanum)
  • Total length: 8.9-20.3 cm (3.5-8.0 in)
  • Back color: olive to bright lime green
  • Belly color: white to light yellow

Habitat


  • Any permanent body of water

Diet


  • Anything they can catch and eat
  • Invertebrates
  • Frogs
  • Reptiles
  • Birds
  • Small mammals

Sound


Listen to the American Bullfrog calls

Life History


  • Nocturnal and diurnal (Carpenter and Morrison, 1973)
  • Active season: March – early November
  • Breeding season: Late April – July
  • Lays eggs
  • Up to 20,000 eggs per female
AmericanBullFrog range

Additional Information


Currently the only frog species listed as invasive to Nebraska.

Game species (season/limit) in the extreme Eastern part of Nebraska.