African Bullfrog Dad Saves His Tadpoles from Drought

African bullfrogs approach parenting a little differently from many other species. It is the males who take on the heavy lifting when it comes to childcare duties. The dad in this extraordinary YouTube clip is doing all he can to protect a huge number of babies. Read on to find out more about Daddy Daycare, bullfrog style.

More About African Bullfrogs

The African bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus) are large amphibians—the males can reach over 9 inches in length and weigh over 2 pounds, while the females are smaller. They are mainly found in southern Africa. Parts of their habitats are notoriously hostile for amphibians, which generally need water to thrive. Some areas can reach 100 degrees F but also drop below freezing. During the rainy season, they take advantage of temporary floodplains, but these puddles are short-lived and dry out quickly. At this point, the African bullfrog must find creative ways to ensure its offspring survive.

African Bullfrog Breeding

Mating takes place after heavy rainfall in shallow water where both the male and female can stand on the bottom. Fertilization takes place on the water’s surface, with as many as 4,000 eggs being released. As you can see from the clip, it is the males who undertake parental care. They watch over the eggs for two days before they hatch. Then things start to get dangerous. The tadpoles feed on small fish and invertebrates, but also feed on each other. They remain as tadpoles for three weeks, during which time they are vulnerable to predation. The defending male protects them from attack, but will happily eat some himself if he cannot find other food.

In the clip, you can see him acting to protect them when their puddle is drying out. He notices the danger and takes action. Using his rear limbs, he breaks down the earth separating the drying puddle from a larger, wetter one. This species of frog is good at moving soil around. They are used to creating burrows underground using the metatarsal tubercle (a bony protrusion) on their powerful hind legs. As the water flows through the gap, the tadpoles are washed with it and enter an environment where they can continue to develop. They are born in such large numbers that many may not survive, but enough will remain to develop into new frogs.