Amphibians

Profile: African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis)

Origin
The African clawed frog is also known as platanna and originates from South Africa, and along the Rift Valley south of the Sahara in southern and east Africa. In western Africa, they can be spotted in Angola and Namibia. That not withstanding, they can now be spotted all over the world, in fresh water areas such as Europe, South America and North America where they are found as an invasive pest. The species is aquatic, thus are mostly found in rivers and ponds in sub-Saharan Africa.

Description
Typically, a female African clawed frog grows up to 4.5 inches (12cm) in length and weighs approximately 200 grams, the males weigh approximately 60 grams and fare around 2.5 inches (5-6cm) lengthwise. The name Xenopus, which means strange foot, was derived from its three short sharp claws of the brawny webbed hind feet. Note that the claws are not true; they are cornified tips that resemble claws.

On the other hand, the front limbs are smaller than the hind limbs and have unwebbed fingers which they mostly use for pushing food into their mouth. They are a hardy species, thus has a lifespan of anything between 5-15 years although statistics show that they have a potential to live up to almost 30 years. Each season, the African Clawed frogs shed, don’t be surprised if you find them easting their own skin that they have shed.

African Clawed Frogs feature a smooth, slippery skin and has a coloration that ranges from grayish to brownish which is patterned with dark shades. The underside is marked by a creamy white color with a tinge of yellow. A point to note is that the African Clawed frogs have the capability to transform their appearance to match that of their surrounding background.
They can change to black, mottled or light. Equally, they possess a lateral line system; whish is very sensitive to water movement. This family of frogs lacks a visible ear and tongue and features a flattened wedge-shaped head which tend to be smaller than the entire body.

To differentiate the males from the females, the females tend to look fatter and larger and they have an extension in between their legs at the end of their abdomen. At the age of between 10-12 months, the period when they mature, the males start vocalizing during evening hours. Another distinguishing factor is the dark mating pads developed on the undersides of the arms and hands of the males.
Naturally, the males do not have vocal cords but when they want to make a call, they contract their inherent laryngeal muscle. Both sexes have a horny, translucent covering that protects their eyes, in place of moveable eyelids. Generally, they are very fast swimmers.

African clawed frogs burrows, more often when the pond dries up and would go deep into mud where they can stay dormant for up to a year then crawl back to other ponds during the rainy seasons. The frogs lack the capabilities to hop. A lot of the time, these frogs spend underwater and only surface up to breathe.

Habitat

The African clawed frog prefers a place with warm, quiet waters and stagnant pools. They are tolerant to varied water pH, although metal ions tend to be toxic. The optimal temperature to keep your frog is at least a 13 inch deep pond with 24 degrees C (75 degrees F).

Provide a substrate of gravel and a filter and also ensure they have a place to hide. You can breed them in aquariums alongside other aquatic frogs that are larger than itself or with various species of fish that are larger too, lest they feed on the young ones.

Diet
The African clawed frog is one of the easiest pet to keep, the reason why it is becoming so common in community aquariums and in the market today. Characteristically, they are carnivorous and scavengers in nature and in the wild they eat anything and everything from dead, living to dying arthropods and all organic wastes. They also feed on water insects, small fish, worms, tadpoles, fresh water snails, crustaceans and aquatic insect larvae.

As a pet, you can feed them with shrimp, bloodworms, dried or live brine shrimp, small fish such as guppies and minnows or earthworms. Although they have an insatiable appetite, it is advisable that you feed them properly, at least twice or thrice weekly.

Reproduction
This is a fun to watch species. Normally when they are mating, they perform a loop-de-loop dance in water. Since the males do not have vocal cords, their way of communicating to the females of their intention is by making a call by alternating long and short warbles. The female on the other side may reply with a rapping sound for the affirmative or a slow ticking if they aren’t agreeing with the offer.

Typically, they mature when they are 10-12 months. Mating takes place throughout all seasons of the year but, depending on the geographical location, it’s commonly done during early spring or late summer and they may even mate up to four times a year.

Mating will mostly take place under the cover or darkness, where the male will clasp the female at the pelvic area. The females lay around 500-2,000 eggs at any given time, which are about .1cm (.04 inches) long. Since the eggs will be subjected to harsh objects under water such as stones and sticks and the substrates if they are in captivity, they produce a jelly to surround the eggs which keeps them under viable conditions. Ussually, it takes a week to have .16 inches long tadpoles. Be advised that the adults do not demonstrate any parental care.

Conclusion
The African Clawed frog is a good catch as it is easy to maintain and requires no special care. The albino type of African Clawed frog is the new craze among enthusiasts as it is attractive and very hardy, which spells a long life span.

Tags: African Clawed Frog, Amphibians, animal profiles, exotic pets, frogs, Xenopus laevis