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Rana catesbiana
Identifying Features
- Locally common, has been declining in many areas.
- Areas with abundant submerged and emergent vegetation are preferred.
- Rarely use temporary waters.
- Tadpoles and adults bury themselves in bottom mud during hibernation.
- Adults may hibernate from mid-October to April or May.
- Love warmer weather, inactive until water temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Call
- Series of bass notes, like “jug-o-rum.”
Breeding
- Breeding usually begins in mid-May, peaks in June, and lasts into July
- Territorial (6-20ft. in diameter).
- 5,000-20,000 eggs are laid in a large free-floating mass.
Development
- Hatch in 3-6 days.
- May transform in 2 years, but many take up to 3 years.
- Sexual maturity is 2-4 years after transformation.
Conservation Note
- Lakeside residential developments often lead to removal of shoreline and submerged vegetation, and heavy recreational use disrupts Bullfrog reproductive activities.
- Heavily collected for restaurant and biological supply.
- Unlikely that this species can survive intense exploitation for commercial or even personal use due to the extended time needed for development, maturation, and slow population replacement rate.
Habitat Type
- Ephemeral wetlands.
- Permanent wetlands.
- Forests.
- Grasslands and savannas.
- To a lesser extent, bullfrogs may be found in urban and agricultural areas.
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