African bullfrog

African bullfrog
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Pyxicephalidae
Genus: Pyxicephalus
Species:
P. adspersus
Binomial name
Pyxicephalus adspersus
Tschudi, 1838
Map
African bullfrog distribution
  Extant (resident)

The African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus), also known as the giant bullfrog or the South African burrowing frog, is a species of frog in the family Pyxicephalidae. It is also known as the pixie frog due to its scientific name. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has been extirpated from Eswatini.[1] It has long been confused with the edible bullfrog (P. edulis), and species boundaries between them, including exact range limits, are not fully understood.[1][2] Additionally, P. angusticeps of coastal East Africa only was revalidated as a separate species in 2013.[2]

The natural habitat of the African bullfrog is moist to dry savanna, subtropical to tropical dry shrubland, intermittent freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, canals, and flooded ditches. It is among the largest anurans on the planet, sixth only to the goliath frog, the helmeted water toad, the Lake Junin frog, the Blyth's river frog, and the cane toad.[3]

  1. ^ a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Pyxicephalus adspersus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T58535A3070700. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T58535A3070700.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Scott, E.; J.D. Visser; C.A. Yetman; L. Oliver; D.G. Broadley (2013). "Revalidation of Pyxicephalus angusticeps Parry, 1982 (Anura: Natatanura: Pyxicephalidae), a bullfrog endemic to the lowlands of eastern Africa". Zootaxa. 3599 (3): 201–228. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3599.3.1. hdl:2263/57608. PMID 24613871.
  3. ^ "Giant African Bullfrog".