Wednesday, December 9, 2009

American Bullfrog



The $40-million-a-year trade in frog legs could be spreading pathogens that are killing off amphibian populations. Disease spread through poorly regulated amphibian trade probably poses a greater risk to amphibian biodiversity than overharvesting. The American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), pictured here, is one of the many species used in the frog-leg trade.

These guys are doing fine in the Debary pond. In Deltona they have not fared so well. The adjacent lake hosts many predators of the frogs including herons, cranes, hawks and otters. I think I can safely say there are no human predators of this species in our area.