Pig Frog

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pig Frog
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Ranidae Genus: Rana Species: R. grylio
Binomial name
Rana grylio Stejneger, 1901
Synonyms
Lithobates grylio

The Pig Frog (Rana grylio^[1][2]) is a species of aquatic frog found in the south-eastern United States, from the state of South Carolina to Texas. Some sources also refer to it as the Lagoon Frog or the Southern Bullfrog.

Contents 1 Physical description 2 Ecology and behavior 3 Diet 4 Reproduction 5 Conservation status 6 Footnotes 7 References

[edit] Physical description

The Pig Frog is green or grey-green in color, with brown or black blotching. They have fully webbed feet, a sharply pointed nose, and a large tympanum. They are easily mistaken for various other species of the genus Rana which they share geographic range with, including the Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). They grow to a length of 3.25 to 5.5 inches.

[edit] Ecology and behavior

Almost entirely aquatic, they are found predominantly on the edges of lakes, or in cypress swamps and marshes that are heavy with vegetation. They are nocturnal. Its pig-like grunt can be heard during the warm months of the year

[edit] Diet

Their primary diet is crayfish, but like most frogs, they will consume almost anything they can swallow, including insects, fish, snakes, and other frogs.

[edit] Reproduction

Breeding takes place from spring through to summer. Eggs are laid in large masses of up to 10,000 at a time on the surface of the water. This species gets its common name from the call that males use to attract females, which sounds somewhat like a pig's grunt.

[edit] Conservation status

Aside from the generalized decline in amphibian populations that has been documented over the last several decades, the Pig Frog holds no particular conservation status and is relatively common in its range. The species has been introduced and established itself in China, Andros Island and New Providence Island in the Bahamas, as well as Puerto Rico.

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References