Florida's Frogs & Toads
True Frogs
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American Bullfrog (Lithobates [formerly Rana] catesbeianus)
Size:
Adult American Bullfrogs range in size from about 3 to 6 inches long, but can be as large as 8 inches. This is the largest frog found in the United States!
Description:
American Bullfrogs have mostly green backs and whitish bellies, and may have dark markings on their backs. In Florida, their backs may be nearly solid black, and they may also have a lot of dark markings on their bellies. Like other true frogs, they have large eardrums and webbed toes, but they do not have ridges down each side of their body.
Range:
Eastern US (and extreme southeastern Canada) except South Florida, and isolated locations across the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. American Bullfrogs have also been introduced in a variety of locations in the west, including British Columbia in Canada, California, and Mexico. In these areas, they are often considered invasive! These large frogs are voracious predators, eating literally anything that will fit in their mouths, and they are negatively impacting native wildlife in areas where they have been introduced.
Breeding Season:
Late Spring and Summer -- breeding may begin earlier and continue into the Fall in the South.
Call:
A deep, rumbling bass, usually described as saying "jug o' rum." To hear the American Bullfrog's call, visit the USGS Frog Call Lookup.
Identification:
American Bullfrogs can easily be identified as "true frogs" by their long legs, webbed hind toes, and large eardrums. They are usually found in lakes, ponds, and larger bodies of water. They do NOT have ridges on each side of the body (except over the eardrum), and do NOT have light spots on their lips (like River Frogs). American Bullfrogs can easily be confused with Pig Frogs – you can tell these two apart by listening for their calls and checking their toes. The webbing on the hind feet of American Bullfrogs doesn't go all the way to the end of the longest toe – the long toe is left sticking out of the webbing. The webbing on the hind feet of Pig Frogs does go all the way to the tip of the longest toe.
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American Bullfrog Photo Gallery:
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