Physical Description:
The Pacman frogs are a stout round frog with a wide head that makes up almost half its body length. They have small horn-like bumps above their eyes, short limbs, wide mouth, with various coloration in brown, green, and cream. They can get up to 3 inches long.
Predators:
Common predators are birds, snakes, and larger frogs.
Lifespan:
Pacman frogs can live up to 6 years in the wild. Under human care they can live up to 10-15 years of age.
Reproduction:
Pacman frogs reproduce by emerging from underground burrows during the wet or rainy season. Males will call to attract females to little pools in the ground in order for the female to lay eggs in the water which are then fertilized by the males. The eggs will hatch into tadpoles within 24 hours and will metamorphosis into froglets within 30 days.
Fun Facts:
Pacman frogs are named due to their resemblance to the video game with a large mouth and round body.
Juveniles will lure their prey by using their hind limb.
They come in various colors which helps them to blend into their surroundings.
Conservation Messaging:
Purposeful Pet Ownership
Pacman frogs are quite popular in the pet trade due to their small size and variations in color. Often times these exotic pets are taken out of their natural habitat to be sold in the pet trade, which can be detrimental to wild populations. One more exotic pet in captivity is one less animal in the wild, which is resulting in species population numbers to drop drastically. Be sure to fully research any pet before buying one. While you may think an amphibian would make a cool pet, it’s important to know all of the care that goes into providing that animal with the best possible welfare. It is important to make sure that if you do buy an exotic pet that you are buying it from a reputable breeder, someone who knows how to properly care for the animal and hasn’t taken that animal from its natural habitat.
