Goliath Frog: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Frogs · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. Unlike most frogs, the goliath frog has no vocal sac, so it makes no mating calls.
2. A breeding goliath frog can dig its own pool, roughly 1 m wide and 10 cm deep, often moving large stones to make the nest.
3. Adult goliath frogs have been seen guarding their nests at night, which may protect the eggs and tadpoles.
4. Females lay several hundred to a few thousand eggs, each about 3.5 mm, stuck to aquatic plants.
5. Equatorial Guinea allows at most 300 goliath frogs a year to leave the country for the pet trade.

The quiz

1. What does the goliath frog lack that most frogs have?

• A vocal sac (correct)
• Eyelids
• Webbed feet
• A tongue

It has no vocal sac, so it makes no mating calls.

2. How wide a pool can a goliath frog dig for its nest?

• Roughly 10 cm
• Roughly 5 m
• Roughly 1 m (correct)
• Roughly 30 cm

The pool can be roughly 1 m wide and 10 cm deep.

3. When have adult goliath frogs been seen guarding their nests?

• At noon
• At night (correct)
• Only in winter
• Only after rain

Adults have been seen guarding the nests at night.

4. What are the goliath frog's eggs stuck to?

• River stones
• The mother's back
• Tree roots
• Aquatic plants (correct)

The eggs are often attached to water plants.

5. How many goliath frogs may Equatorial Guinea export per year for the pet trade?

• No more than 300 (correct)
• No more than 30
• No more than 3,000
• None at all

No more than 300 may be exported per year.

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