Leptodactylus pentadactylus
Smokey Jungle Frog
About Me
Our smoky jungle frog colony contains four males and four females. They breed well in captivity, and if you visit us during their breeding season (late summer to early fall) you may get to witness courtship behavior or even see one of the foam nests they build to nurture and protect their eggs and tadpoles!
The Smoky Jungle Frog is one of the largest amphibians alive, growing up to 7 inches in length. The have relatively large heads and are mostly brown in color with random spotting of dark brown, black, and red.
This amphibian is carnivorous and an ambush predator. Lying in wait, it pounces on any prey smaller than itself, including invertebrates, reptiles, other amphibians, mammals, and birds.
Smoky Jungle Frogs are found the rainforests of South America, primarily in countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, French Guiana, and Peru.
Due to their voracious nature, these frogs are solitary and males can be fiercely territorial. During the rainy season, males will call from within or near ponds in order to attract mates.
Breeding takes place in temporary pools, and by kicking its rear legs, the male will create a foam nest on which the eggs are deposited. Only 6.5% of these eggs are fertilized, as the rest serve as food for the young. Tadpoles are highly carnivorous to the point of cannibalism, and develop quickly to survive their pools drying up.
Smoky Jungle Frogs are considered as species of Least Concern by the IUCN Redlist. Most populations are found in protected areas and they are not collected or hunted at a rate fast enough to deplete their numbers.
Our smoky jungle frog colony contains four males and four females. They breed well in captivity, and if you visit us during their breeding season (late summer to early fall) you may get to witness courtship behavior or even see one of the foam nests they build to nurture and protect their eggs and tadpoles!
Leptodactylus pentadactylus . (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2017, from http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/57154/0
W. (n.d.). Smokey Jungle Frog. Retrieved January 12, 2017, from http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/visit-the-zoo/amphibian-house/frogs-and-toads-1254385524/leptodactylus-pentadactylus
Other Amphibians
Due to their voracious nature, these frogs are solitary and males can be fiercely territorial.
This small frog grows to about two inches long and is immediately recognizable for its brilliant green colors, amplified in intensity by a black background.
The Cane Toad is the largest species in its family. Adult Cane Toads are usually heavy-built and weigh an average of up to 1.8kg. (4 lbs.).
The Japanese Giant Salamander is the second-largest amphibian in the world, reaching lengths of 1.5 meters.