A member of the family Conrauidae, the goliath frog (Conraua goliath) is sometimes referred to as the gigantic slippery frog and the goliath bullfrog. The biggest frog still alive is the goliath. Specimens can weigh up to 3.25 kilos and reach a length from snout to vent of up to 32 centimeters (13 in) (7.2 lb). In Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, this species’ habitat range is fairly constrained. Due to habitat devastation, collection for food, and the pet trade, its population is in decline.
Habitat
The goliath frog’s geographic range is confined to Cameroon and coastal, equatorial Guinea in West Africa. In deep, humid, and generally warm rain forests, goliath frogs can be found in or close to swiftly moving rivers and waterfalls. The water is typically 67°F, clear, oxygen-rich, and slightly acidic. The location of goliath frogs is also influenced by the availability of larval food.
Appearance
The biggest frogs on Earth are known as Goliath frogs. They range in length from 17 to 32 cm and weigh from 600 and 3250 grams. They have a triangular head and a flattened, broad body. Their ventral skin is a lighter shade of yellowish green than their dorsal skin, which is granular and greenish brown. All of the legs are heavily webbed, with the front legs being shorter and stockier than the hind legs. Their eyes can have a diameter of over 2.5 cm.
Diet
Adult goliath frogs consume amphibians like newts, salamanders, and smaller frogs as well as insects, crustaceans, fish, mollusks, small animals, and fish. Vegetarian Goliath tadpoles only consume the aquatic plant Dicraea warmingii, which is only found close to streams and waterfalls.
Reproduction
The mating habits of goliath frogs are little understood. The little amount of study implies that male goliath frogs call in a manner distinct from that of most other frogs. The mouth of goliath frogs is held open to produce a long whistling sound rather than sucking air into vocal sacs and blowing it out to generate calls. Vocal sacs are absent in Goliath frogs. Then, the cacophony attracts females to the male.
About 3.5 mm in diameter, female goliath frogs produce several hundred eggs at a time. They cling to vegetation in the rivers and streams where they reproduce. The eggs that hatch into tadpoles, which grow to reach about 5 cm long, in the subsequent 75 to 90 days. There is no data on seasonality, breeding frequency, or sexual maturation timing.
Keeping as Pet
Due to their popularity, goliath frogs are brought into the United States for zoos, the pet trade, and even frog jumping competitions. You must take care of goliath frogs properly and feed them the right things if you want to keep them as pets. They feel anxious when you handle them, thus you shouldn’t handle them.
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