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Goliath frog
The goliath frog (Conraua goliath), otherwise known commonly as the giant slippery frog and the goliath bullfrog, is a species of frog in the family Conrauidae. The goliath frog is the largest living frog. Specimens can reach up to about 45 centimetres (18 in) in snout–vent length and 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lb) in weight. This species has a relatively small habitat range in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its numbers are dwindling due to habitat destruction, collection for food, and the pet trade.
The male and female are very similar. In a sample of 15 individuals, weights ranged between 600 and 3,250 g (1.3 and 7.2 lb), and snout–vent lengths were between 17 and 32 cm (6.7 and 12.6 in). In total length, including outstretched legs, the largest specimens can slightly exceed 80 cm (31 in). The heaviest verified specimen, caught in the Muni River system in 1960, weighed 3,305 g (7.3 lb) and had a snout–vent length of 34.0 cm (13.4 in). The longest verified specimen, caught in the same river system in 1966, weighed 3,100 g (6.8 lb) and had a snout–vent length of 35.6 cm (14.0 in). There are unverified claims of considerably larger specimens, but they are dubious. Their eyes can be nearly 2.5 cm (1.0 in) in diameter. The conspicuous tympanum has a diameter around 0.5 cm (0.20 in) and is separated from the eye by about 5 cm (2.0 in) in adults. Goliath frog eggs and tadpoles are about the same size as other frogs despite their very large adult form.[citation needed]
A lateral fold extends from the eye to the posterior portion of the tympanum. Their toes are fully webbed, with large interdigital membranes extending down to the toe tips. The second toe is the longest. The skin on the dorsum and on top of the limbs is granular. Dorsal coloration is green sienna, while the abdomen and ventral part of the limbs are yellow/orange. They have acute hearing, but no vocal sac, and also lack nuptial pads.
The goliath frog is mainly found near waterfalls in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. Their habitat is divided into two main seasons: the dry season which occurs from November to April and the rainy season which occurs from May to October.
Due to its large size, the goliath frog has an extremely selective distribution. This species is primarily located in a dense equatorial forest fringe which is somewhat parallel to the coast and surrounded by rivers. The goliath frog has been located in Sanaga Basin (mainly appearing near the Nachtigal cascades and in the Sakbayeme rapids), Kienke Basin, Ntem Basin (mainly being located near the rapids of the Mensolo and Nsana), and Mbía Basin (where it was found to be very abundant in the rapids and cascades). These distribution patterns emphasize its limited environment which tends to have a clear preference for water territories.
The primary threat to the goliath frog is hunting, as it is considered a food source in its native range. The IUCN has highlighted the need for conservation measures, in cooperation with local communities, to ensure hunting occurs at sustainable levels. To a lesser extent, they are also threatened by habitat loss and degradation. They have been extensively exported to zoos and the pet trade, but have proven shy and nervous in captivity. Although captives may live longer than their wild counterparts, the species has not been bred in captivity. Due to their classification as an endangered species, the Equatorial Guinean government has declared that no more than 300 goliath frogs may be exported per year for the pet trade, but few now seem to be exported from this country.
It was determined in a study that the goliath frog consumes a wide variety of food, suggesting that the frog is omnivorous with a carnivorous preference. Their prey are terrestrial, aquatic, and semi-aquatic, indicating that they hunt both on land and in water. Food preferences were different among the different weight groups of frogs, possibly correlating to different stages of development. Frogs weighing less than 400 g (14 oz) consumed annelids, arachnids, myriapods, insects, crustaceans, gastropods, and reptiles. Frogs weighing more than 1,000 g (35 oz) consumed arachnids, myriapods, insects, crustaceans, and gastropods with a significantly higher occurrence of myriapods. Annelids and reptiles were present only in the diet of lower weight frogs, emphasizing a more diversified diet for younger goliath frogs. Fully developed frogs are also believed to prey on fish, small mammals, and smaller frogs.
Like most amphibians, water is vital for their reproduction. Because the goliath frog lacks a vocal sac, it does not produce mating calls, a behavior generally present in frogs and toads. The egg masses consist of several hundred to a few thousand eggs, approximately 3.5 mm (0.14 in) each, and often attached to aquatic vegetation. Goliath frogs have been observed to create three main nest types, all semi-circular in shape and located in or near a river. The first type of nest is constructed by clearing a section in an existing river pool. The second is constructed by expand an already existing pool, damming it off from the river. The third is constructed by digging a new pool roughly 1 m (3 ft) wide and 10 cm (4 in) deep, sometimes moving quite large stones in the process. This may partially explain the goliath frog's large size, as larger frogs may be more successful at moving heavy objects when constructing their nests. Adults have also been shown to guard the nests at night. Although not confirmed, there are indications that the nest is constructed by the male, while the female guards the nest with the eggs. Larval development takes between 85 and 95 days.
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Goliath frog
The goliath frog (Conraua goliath), otherwise known commonly as the giant slippery frog and the goliath bullfrog, is a species of frog in the family Conrauidae. The goliath frog is the largest living frog. Specimens can reach up to about 45 centimetres (18 in) in snout–vent length and 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lb) in weight. This species has a relatively small habitat range in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its numbers are dwindling due to habitat destruction, collection for food, and the pet trade.
The male and female are very similar. In a sample of 15 individuals, weights ranged between 600 and 3,250 g (1.3 and 7.2 lb), and snout–vent lengths were between 17 and 32 cm (6.7 and 12.6 in). In total length, including outstretched legs, the largest specimens can slightly exceed 80 cm (31 in). The heaviest verified specimen, caught in the Muni River system in 1960, weighed 3,305 g (7.3 lb) and had a snout–vent length of 34.0 cm (13.4 in). The longest verified specimen, caught in the same river system in 1966, weighed 3,100 g (6.8 lb) and had a snout–vent length of 35.6 cm (14.0 in). There are unverified claims of considerably larger specimens, but they are dubious. Their eyes can be nearly 2.5 cm (1.0 in) in diameter. The conspicuous tympanum has a diameter around 0.5 cm (0.20 in) and is separated from the eye by about 5 cm (2.0 in) in adults. Goliath frog eggs and tadpoles are about the same size as other frogs despite their very large adult form.[citation needed]
A lateral fold extends from the eye to the posterior portion of the tympanum. Their toes are fully webbed, with large interdigital membranes extending down to the toe tips. The second toe is the longest. The skin on the dorsum and on top of the limbs is granular. Dorsal coloration is green sienna, while the abdomen and ventral part of the limbs are yellow/orange. They have acute hearing, but no vocal sac, and also lack nuptial pads.
The goliath frog is mainly found near waterfalls in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. Their habitat is divided into two main seasons: the dry season which occurs from November to April and the rainy season which occurs from May to October.
Due to its large size, the goliath frog has an extremely selective distribution. This species is primarily located in a dense equatorial forest fringe which is somewhat parallel to the coast and surrounded by rivers. The goliath frog has been located in Sanaga Basin (mainly appearing near the Nachtigal cascades and in the Sakbayeme rapids), Kienke Basin, Ntem Basin (mainly being located near the rapids of the Mensolo and Nsana), and Mbía Basin (where it was found to be very abundant in the rapids and cascades). These distribution patterns emphasize its limited environment which tends to have a clear preference for water territories.
The primary threat to the goliath frog is hunting, as it is considered a food source in its native range. The IUCN has highlighted the need for conservation measures, in cooperation with local communities, to ensure hunting occurs at sustainable levels. To a lesser extent, they are also threatened by habitat loss and degradation. They have been extensively exported to zoos and the pet trade, but have proven shy and nervous in captivity. Although captives may live longer than their wild counterparts, the species has not been bred in captivity. Due to their classification as an endangered species, the Equatorial Guinean government has declared that no more than 300 goliath frogs may be exported per year for the pet trade, but few now seem to be exported from this country.
It was determined in a study that the goliath frog consumes a wide variety of food, suggesting that the frog is omnivorous with a carnivorous preference. Their prey are terrestrial, aquatic, and semi-aquatic, indicating that they hunt both on land and in water. Food preferences were different among the different weight groups of frogs, possibly correlating to different stages of development. Frogs weighing less than 400 g (14 oz) consumed annelids, arachnids, myriapods, insects, crustaceans, gastropods, and reptiles. Frogs weighing more than 1,000 g (35 oz) consumed arachnids, myriapods, insects, crustaceans, and gastropods with a significantly higher occurrence of myriapods. Annelids and reptiles were present only in the diet of lower weight frogs, emphasizing a more diversified diet for younger goliath frogs. Fully developed frogs are also believed to prey on fish, small mammals, and smaller frogs.
Like most amphibians, water is vital for their reproduction. Because the goliath frog lacks a vocal sac, it does not produce mating calls, a behavior generally present in frogs and toads. The egg masses consist of several hundred to a few thousand eggs, approximately 3.5 mm (0.14 in) each, and often attached to aquatic vegetation. Goliath frogs have been observed to create three main nest types, all semi-circular in shape and located in or near a river. The first type of nest is constructed by clearing a section in an existing river pool. The second is constructed by expand an already existing pool, damming it off from the river. The third is constructed by digging a new pool roughly 1 m (3 ft) wide and 10 cm (4 in) deep, sometimes moving quite large stones in the process. This may partially explain the goliath frog's large size, as larger frogs may be more successful at moving heavy objects when constructing their nests. Adults have also been shown to guard the nests at night. Although not confirmed, there are indications that the nest is constructed by the male, while the female guards the nest with the eggs. Larval development takes between 85 and 95 days.