BULLFROG encyclopedia topics

bullfrog, common name of the largest North American frog, Rana catesbeiana. Native to the E United States, this species has been successfully introduced in the West and in other parts of the world. The body length is 4 to 8 in. (10-20 cm), and the legs may be up to 10 in. (25 cm) long. An aquatic form with fully webbed toes, the bullfrog can close its nostrils and lie at the bottom of a pond for some time. Males have a loud, booming call. Bullfrog tadpoles require two or three years to become adults. The bullfrog is the only frog whose legs are marketed in quantity for food in the United States. Several other large frogs of the genus Rana are called bullfrogs in other regions. Bullfrogs are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Amphibia, order Anura, family Ranidae.

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bullfrog

Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana)

Solitary aquatic frog (Rana catesbeiana) named for its loud call. The largest U.S. frog, native to the eastern states, the bullfrog has been introduced into the western states and into other countries. The bullfrog is green or brown with a white to yellowish belly and dark-barred legs. Its body is about 8 in. (20 cm) long, and its hindlegs may be 10 in. (25 cm) long. Large adults weigh 1 lb (0.5 kg) or more. Bullfrogs usually live in or near a body of still water. They are used for food and as laboratory animals. The name is sometimes applied to other large frogs.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.