Missouri’s most water-loving frog can be found in nearly any pond, river, or marsh throughout the state. For more on this croaking critter, hop over to mdc.mo.gov/field-guide.
American Bullfrog
Love Burps
To attract a girlfriend, a male bullfrog makes a call that sounds like a deep, rumbling burp. The love burps can be heard over half a mile away.
Boy or Girl?
Boy bullfrogs have eardrums (the discs behind each eye) that are larger than their eyes. Girls have eardrums that are about the same size as their eyes.
Eggs-traordinary!
Mama bullfrogs can lay over 20,000 eggs. The eggs bob on the water’s surface like globs of tapioca pudding.
Pudgy Pollywogs
Bullfrog tadpoles eat algae and grow quite chubby. It takes about a year for them to turn into frogs.
Big Mouths
Adult bullfrogs eat whatever they can cram into their cavernous mouths, including crayfish, fish, small snakes, rodents, and even other frogs.
Also In This Issue
Ah-ten-hut! I am Sergeant Sand. You will address me as drill sergeant, not ma’am or miss. My mission is to train recruits to follow orders, respect superiors, and serve with honor. I demand excellence. Understood?
Missouri’s ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers are swimming with fishes! More than 200 different kinds lurk under the water’s surface, from the well-named least darter that’s not much longer than your thumb to the lake sturgeon that can grow as long as a sofa and weigh more than 200 pounds.
And More...
This Issue's Staff
Photographer – Noppadol Paothong
Photographer – David Stonner
Designer – Marci Porter
Art Director – Ben Nickelson
Editor – Matt Seek
Subscriptions – Marcia Hale
Magazine Manager – Stephanie Thurber