One of the most notable characteristics of the African clawed frog is its lack of a tongue and visible ears, a rarity among amphibians. This frog has fully webbed hind feet equipped with three sharp claws on each, which are primarily used for tearing apart its prey, as it cannot use its tongue to capture food like many other frogs. Its body is robust and somewhat flattened, which aids in swimming, and its skin is smooth and slippery, often mottled with varying shades of green and gray to help it blend into its aquatic environment.
African clawed frogs are entirely aquatic and rarely leave the water. They have a lateral line system, similar to that found in fish, which they use to sense movements and vibrations in the water—this helps them detect prey and avoid predators. These frogs are also known for surviving in very harsh conditions, including waters with low oxygen levels or high salinity, making them quite resilient.
In terms of behavior, these frogs are nocturnal and highly predatory. They feed on a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates, as well as fish, tadpoles, and even smaller frogs. Their eating method is unique; they use a rapid snapping motion of their jaws to capture and swallow their prey whole.
One fun fact about the African clawed frog is its role in medical research. Historically, it was used in pregnancy tests during the mid-20th century; injecting a woman’s urine into the frog would induce egg-laying if the woman was pregnant due to the presence of the pregnancy hormone hCG. Moreover, this species was among the first vertebrates to be cloned in the 1960s, and it remains a popular model organism in developmental biology due to its relatively simple genome and the ease of observing its embryonic development.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chile
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Eswatini
France
Gabon
Indonesia
Italy
Lesotho
Malawi
Mexico
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Portugal
South Africa
Sudan
United Kingdom
United States
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
