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African clawed frog Facts

African clawed frog Facts
African clawed frog is a species of frog that is found in eastern and southern parts of Africa. This frog can survive in various habitats: from stagnant water to the fast flowing streams. During the summer, African clawed frogs are mainly located in warm rivers. They will move into the flooded forests during the rainy season. African clawed frogs are not listed as endangered species, but they are very sensitive to the pollution of the water. In other parts of the world, African clawed frog acts like invasive species that negatively affects other species in the freshwater ecosystems.
Interesting African clawed frog Facts:
Female African clawed frogs are larger than males. Females are usually 4.5 inches long, weighing around 7 ounces. Males are usually 2.5 inches long and 2 ounces heavy.
Body of African clawed frog is smooth and covered with mucus that protects their sensitive skin.
Color of the body can be green, grey, brown or albino (without any pigment) with dark blotches that provide camouflage against predators.
African clawed frog has ability to change its color to adapt to their environment.
African clawed frog has claws on three middle fingers on the hind feet. Front feet are not webbed because they play role in feeding (by pushing the food into the mouth).
African clawed frogs have lateral line, located on both sides of the body. This sensitive organ detects prey under the water. They also use sense of smell and sensitive fingers to detect and catch their prey.
African clawed frog is a carnivore (meat-eater) that will hunt insects, spiders, small invertebrates, crustaceans, snails, worms, fish…
African clawed frog eats its own skin after shedding.
African clawed frog has a lot of predators due to its small size. Main predators are birds of prey, rodents, cats, dogs and reptiles.
Male African clawed frog does not have vocal cords. Even without them, he is able to produce clicking sound when he wants to attract females during mating season.
Females will respond by producing accepting or rejecting calls, depending on their desire to mate.
Female is able to produce between 500 and 2000 eggs per mating. During the year, mating takes place several times and one female produces between 2000 and 8000 eggs annually.
After one week, eggs will hatch. African clawed frog does not show parental care and tadpoles are left on their own. In 6 to 8 weeks, tadpoles will transform into adult frog.
African clawed frogs are often used laboratory animals. After injecting the urine of pregnant women into female African clawed frog - she starts producing eggs. Their embryos are especially valuable for science because they are transparent and allow close investigation of the embryonic development.
African clawed frog can survive 8 to 15 years in the wild and up to 30 years in captivity.


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