American Bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus (Shaw, 1802)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Amphibia   >   Order Anura   >   Family Ranidae   >   Genus Lithobates   

Status:

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is the largest species of frog in Maryland. Bullfrogs are quite ravenous predators, and will attempt to eat almost any animal smaller than it is. In fact, this species has caused declines in native amphibian populations in many areas of the American west where it was introduced by humans. This frog is at home in virtually any permanent body of water, including ponds or lakes, bogs and swamps, and slower sections of rivers. The loud, low-pitched croak of bullfrogs is distinctive and can be heard from some distance (Conant & Collins, 1998). Bullfrogs are common throughout Maryland.

Description:

Bullfrogs can be easily distinguished from similar Lithobates species by noting the absence of dorsolateral ridges on the back.

There are 1,188 records in the project database.

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American Bullfrog in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/20/2021). (c) Emily Summerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY). - Emily Summerbell, Ph.D. via iNaturalist.

American Bullfrog in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/18/2021). (c) nschneider33, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - nschneider33 via iNaturalist.

American Bullfrog in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/6/2021). (c) Jaroslav Holly, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - hollyjaro via iNaturalist.

American Bullfrog in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/10/2022). (c) kbarylski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). - kbarylski via iNaturalist.

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An American Bullfrog in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/17/2015). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Kent Co., Maryland (7/13/2014). Photo by Nancy Martin. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Wicomico Co., Maryland (9/9/2007). Photo by Gary Van Velsir. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2012). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/19/2019). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Talbot Co., Maryland (6/13/2018). Photo by Erica Weick. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/12/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Bullfrogs in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/4/2011). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Bullfrog in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/4/2011). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Calvert Co., Maryland (4/19/2019). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/23/2010). Top - female. Bottom - male. Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Worcester Co., Maryland (6/4/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/17/2020). (c) dtread1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dtread1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/8/2018). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/6/2021). (c) Les R Becker, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Les R Becker via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/28/2016). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Charles Co., Maryland (8/23/2020). (c) Jim Moore (Maryland), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Frederick Co., Maryland (10/10/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Caroline Co., Maryland (10/5/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog tadpole in Howard Co., Maryland (6/15/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/16/2018). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog tadpole in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/20/2014). Photo by George Jett. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog tadpole in Howard Co., Maryland (4/26/2013). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Carroll Co., Maryland (4/5/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog tadpole in Carroll Co., Maryland (3/19/2019). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog larva in Caroline Co., Maryland (5/10/2019). (c) browningwh, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by browningwh via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog tadpole in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/9/2016). Photo by Lynn Strauss. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog tadpoles in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/29/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/19/2017). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

An American Bullfrog in Worcester Co., Maryland (3/26/2015). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog habitat in Howard Co., Maryland (6/24/2021). (c) Gwyn Fireman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Gwyn Fireman via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog habitat in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/30/2022). (c) hughrand, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by hughrand via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

American Bullfrog in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/6/2020). Photo by Odacir Pinto. (MBP list)


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