The Largest Frog.....

Goliath Frogs (Conraua goliath)

Physical Characteristics

• Head and body length ~ up to 13 inches (33cm)
• Length with legs stretched out ~ about 2.7 feet (80cm)
• Weight ~ up to 8 pounds (3Kg)
• On top, the frog is greenish brown, and its underside is yellowish
• The Goliath Frog's second toe is the longest.
• These frogs have acute hearing but no vocal sac, and additionally lack nuptial pads.
• Goliath Frogs are mute ~ they do not make noise
• They can leap 10 feet

Lifespan

• The goliath frog can live up to 15 years.

Food

• Adults are carnivores that eat insects, crustaceans, fish, and amphibians.
• Tadpoles (baby frogs) are herbivores that eat water plants found only near waterfalls and in rapids.
• Some indigenous people eat Goliath Frogs

Reproduction

• Mating season for the Goliath Frog is July and August
• Reproduce sexually
• Several hundred eggs are included in each egg mass, which are attached to plants growing on the bottom of the river
• It takes 85 to 90 days for tadpoles to develop

Habitat

• Goliath Frogs live in fast moving rivers and streams with sandy bottoms
• These river systems are located in dense rain forests
• The frogs are found in Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, both countries in West Africa.

Relations with Humans

• Goliath frogs were considered to be a source of food in some parts of west Africa.
• They were also highly exported to zoos and animal dealers to be sold as pets. Unfortunately, these frogs fail to thrive in captivity (and almost never reproduce there).
• Due to their classification as endangered, the Equatorial Guinean government has declared that no more than 300 goliaths may be exported out of the country per year.
• Some are captured and kept as pets.