By Obiabin Onukwugha
The bullfrog often known as jumping chicken is a giant frog native to tropical regions. Their populations are also significant in India, the United States, Africa and Canada.
It typically inhabits sizeable permanent water bodies such as swamps, ponds, and lakes. Bullfrogs can also be found in manmade habitats such as pools, koi ponds, canals, ditches and culverts.
The bullfrog gets its name from the sound the male makes during the breeding season, which sounds similar to a bull bellowing.
At least three different types of calls have been noted in male bullfrogs under different circumstances. These distinctive calls include territorial calls made as threats to other males, advertisement calls made to attract females, and encounter calls which precede combat.
The bullfrogs have a prolonged breeding season, with the males continuously engaging in sexual activity throughout. Males are present at the breeding pond for longer periods than females during the entire season, increasing their chances of multiple matings.
To establish social dominance within choruses, bullfrogs demonstrate various forms of aggression, primarily through visual displays. Posture is a critical factor in establishing a social position and threatening challengers.
Territorial males have inflated postures while non-territorial males remain in the water with only their heads showing. For dominant (territorial) males, their elevated posture reveals their yellow-coloured throats.
Called “sa kwadi” in Hausa, “Kọ̀nkọ̀” in Yoruba and “Awọ in Igbo”, bullfrogs are abundant in their native habitat, playing a role in insect control and energy transfer in the ecosystem.
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Bullfrogs are carnivores. They eat crayfish, water beetles, snails, dragonfly nymphs (larvae), small fish, and occasionally small birds. Animals such as snapping turtles, foxes, herons, and raccoons eat bullfrogs.
The bullfrog is a tasteful delicacy and is consumed in many parts of the world. It can be prepared with pepper source and be eaten as a dessert.
In India, the bullfrog is famous and a monsoon delicacy in Goa, where some restaurants serve frog meat under the name ‘jumping chicken.’
The Bulk Frog and the Cow
Once upon a time, a thirsty cow went to drink water at a pond. The cow never noticed that there were other little creatures therein. As the cow reached out to drink, it trampled and killed many of them.
When mother bullfrog returned, the young bullfrogs told her about the horrible event and what befell the others. “Mommy, mommy, a huge beast with four legs walked thunderously. Bang! Bang! It stamped many of us to death.”
Mother bullfrog wanted to know how big the beast was. So she decided to inflate herself and asked, “is it as big as me?” “No, it is bigger.” Her kids answered.
The mother inflated herself more and asked again. But the kids still replied, “No, you do not meet the half-size.”
The mother was very annoyed. She continuously inflated herself more and more. But her kids still told her she still had not met the half-size of the beast.
The mother bullfrog became extremely angry that she inflated herself without concern about her life. This time, her body could no longer withstand it, so her stomach suddenly exploded and the poor mother bullfrog died at the bank of that pond.
