 |
|
Anura, Pyxicephalidae; African Box Headed Frogs
|
| Pyxicephalids inhabit sub Sahara Africa, 13 genera hold 61 species. Many live in arid habitats and spend considerable time underground, surfacing to reproduce and feed. Others live along streams and are active much of the year. Members of this family are convergent with the toads and with the ranids. Most of these frogs were previously placed in the family Ranidae. Molecular studies suggest this family is monophyletic. The common name is derived from the Greek "pyxis" meaning box and "cephalo" meaning head. |
 |
African Bullfrog, Pyxicephalus adspersus Tschudi, 1838. Photograph of an animal in the pet trade. Adults can reach 245 mm, with males being larger than females. A dominant male provides parental care to the tadpoles. The dry season is spent underground, reproduction occurs after 65 mm of rain and it is explosive. It inhabits the
dry savannas of South Africa This is a long lived species, life span may be 45 years. The African Bullfrog is eaten by local people and its remains have been found at archeological sites. |
| |
|
| |
 |
|
| All text and photographs copyright © John C. Murphy. All rights reserved worldwide. The content of this site is made available for purposes of researching images offered for license by John C. Murphy. No image is to be copied, duplicated, modified or redistributed in whole or part without the prior written permission of JCM Natural History Photography. Email: jcm@jcmnaturalhistory.com |
|