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Bullfrog Facts for a Kid

Many children are fascinated by frogs. The North American bullfrog, with its distinctive deep-pitched call, is often kept as a pet. Children are entertained by the bullfrog's loud call, which has been likened to a cow mooing, and gives rise to its unusual name.

Description
- Bullfrogs are medium-sized frogs -- they average 3 to 6 inches long, though some grow up to 8 inches long and can weigh more than 3 lbs. Bullfrogs are usually green or brown in color, with darker blotches of color on their backs and lighter skin on their bellies. They have powerful back legs that help them make leaps of 3 to 6 feet. The bullfrog's scientific name is rana catesbeiana.
Habitat
- Bullfrogs are widely distributed across North America. As amphibians, they spend their lives in or close to the water in freshwater ponds, lakes and marshes. They prefer to stay close to the banks rather than out in the open water. They prefer warmer areas and will dig down into the mud to hibernate in the cold weather. Bullfrogs are territorial and protect their territory by calling, making displays and even wrestling.
Diet
- Bullfrogs are nocturnal and hunt at night. They have teeth in the roofs of their mouths and muscular tongues that can flick prey into their waiting, open mouths. They are carnivorous and have a meat-based diet that includes insects, mice, fish, snakes, birds, turtles and even other frogs. They will wait patiently until a tasty snack comes along, then leap at their prey.
Lifecycle
- Male bullfrogs sing in a chorus at breeding ponds to attract mates in late spring or early summer. Female bullfrogs lay around 20,000 eggs, which float on the surface of the water. The eggs hatch in less than a week and thousands of torpedo-shaped tadpoles emerge. Tadpoles gradually grow legs and lose their tails. According to National Geographic, it can be up to four years before the tadpoles are fully grown.

Animals & Science