LoadingLoading... 
 

CEOP Report
 Search:

A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Images and Resources

African Clawed Frog

The African clawed frog is also known as the platanna. The African clawed frog is thought to have originated in South Africa, and is today found naturally across the African continent. The African clawed frog has been introduced to the Americas and parts of Europe.

The average adult African clawed frog grows to about 12 cm in length, and weighs around 200g. The African clawed frog spends its whole life in water, except for poking its head up to the surface from time to time.

The African clawed frog can swim at astonishing speeds sideways, backwards, forwards, up and down, and in all other directions. The African clawed frog then catches its prey with its claws aided by its long tongue.

The African clawed frog is often a greenish, grey colour although other colours of the African clawed frog are not uncommon (such as albino). The African clawed frog is known to have a long lifespan for small aquatic animals, and can live up to around 5 to 15 years in the wild. Some adult African clawed frogs have been recorded to live to nearly 30 years old in captivity!

The African clawed frog's main food is water bugs and small fish but the African clawed frog is also known to eat its own skin whenever it is shed. African clawed frogs also hunt other small invertebrates such as insects, spiders and worms.

Due to its small size, the African clawed frog has a number of natural predators within its natural environment, that occur both in and out of the water. Small mammals including rodents, cats and dogs, numerous birds and reptiles, all prey on the African clawed frog.

Know something we don't know? Well why don't you tell us?
Help Better Butterfly! Contribute Now! Edit This Article
Contribute to
A-Z Animals!

Visitor Comments

Click to Expand/Collapse Option Submit Comment

African Clawed Frog Facts [Edit]

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Pipidae
Genus:Xenopus
Scientific Name:Xenopus Laevis
Type:Amphibian
Diet:Carnivore
Size (L):2.5cm - 12cm (1in - 5in)
Weight:25g - 220g (1oz - 8oz)
Top Speed:8km/h (5mph)
Life Span:8 - 15 years
Lifestyle:Solitary
Conservation Status:Least Concern
Colour:Brown, Grey, Albino
Skin Type:Permeable Scales
Favourite Food:Blood Worm
Habitat:Warm stagnant water with grassland
Average Litter Size:2,000
Main Prey:Blood Worm, Water Fleas, Shrimp
Predators:Snakes, Birds, Small Mammals
Distinctive Features:Flat body and toxic skin

A-Z Animals Contact Us - About Us - Contribute - Educators - Privacy Policy - Advertise

Animal images are sourced from WikiMedia Commons or visitor contributions and are copyright of their respective owners.

Powered by OpenCrypt Membership Software
Design inspired by Free Website Templates
Copyright © 2008 - 2009 A-Z Animals

Connection Error x
There was a problem with your request. Please check your internet connection is working correctly and retry, you may need to refresh the web page. To continue using this page, please select the 'x' in the top right of this box.
 
If problems persist, please contact us.