Bullfrog

Scientific name: Lithobates catesbeianus (formerly known as Rana catesbeiana)

Common name: American Bullfrog

Native To: Central and Eastern U.S. (Clarkson and deVos 1986)

Date of U.S. Introduction: First introduced to the Western U.S. in the early 1900s (Clarkson and deVos 1986)

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Videos: Bull Frog Calling (or click Play button below)

Statesman Journal (Salem, OR) - Invasive Species: Bullfrogs (or click Play button below)

Means of Introduction: Accidentally introduced during trout stockings; also introduced through the aquarium trade and for sport and pest control (Lorvelec and Detaint 2006; McKercher and Gregoire 2011)

Impact: Competes with and preys on native species (Ficetola et al. 2007)

Management Plans: Aquatic Species

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Lithobates [=Rana] catesbeianus - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
DOI. USGS. Southeast Ecological Science Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Special Note: Distribution maps and collection information (State and County)

Rana catesbeiana - Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program
DOD. USACE. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Lithobates catesbeianus
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Rana catesbeiana Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Alien Species in Cahoots (News Release, Apr 14, 2003)
DOI. United States Geological Survey.
Impacts

American Bullfrog - Checklist of Amphibian Species and Identification Guide
DOI. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution

Impact of invasive exotic animals on native reptiles and amphibians -- Cane toad / Bullfrog
DOI. Western Ecological Research Center.
Introduction History; Photographs; Impacts

Bullfrog
Pima County (Arizona).
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution

Bullfrog - Invasive Species Fact Sheet (PDF | 1.57 MB)
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Legal Aspects

North American Bullfrog - Appendix A-84, 2010 Utah Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan (2010; PDF | 746 KB)
Utah Department of Natural Resources. Division of Wildlife Resources.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Bullfrog
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Washington Invasive Species Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Rana catesbeiana
University of Michigan. Museum of Zoology. Animal Diversity Web.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat

North American Bullfrog - Introduced Species Summary Project
Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Herps of Texas: American Bullfrog
University of Texas - Austin. Texas Memorial Museum.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution

Bullfrog
British Columbia Ministry of Environment (Canada). Frogwatch Program.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Lithobates catesbeianus - Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe (Nov 2006; PDF | 200 KB)
European Commission. Sixth Framework Programme.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

American Bullfrog - Rana catesbeiana - Alien
Reptiles and Amphibians of the UK.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts

Lithobates catesbeianus (amphibian) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Bullfrog - Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Colorado
Colorado Herpetological Society.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution

Rana catesbeiana
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Elkhorn Slough Amphibians: American Bullfrog
Elkhorn Slough Foundation (California).
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts

Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana
Iowa Herpetology.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution

Citations

Clarkson, R.W. and J.C. de Vos, Jr. 1986. The bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana Shaw, in the Lower Colorado River, Arizona-California. Journal of Herpetology 20(1):42-49.

Ficetola, G.F., W. Thuiller, and C. Miaud. 2007. Prediction and validation of the potential global distribution of a problematic alien invasive species — the American bullfrog. Diversity and Distributions 13(4):476-485.

Lorvelec, O. and M. Detaint. 2006. Lithobates catesbeianus (PDF | 200 KB) Devliering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe, European Commission.

McKercher, L. and D.R. Gregoire. 2011. Lithobates catesbeianus. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.