The goliath frog is a species of anuran amphibian native to the African continent that stands out for its large size, being able to measure more than 30 cm in its adult stage. Today, it is recognized as the world's largest frog, but unfortunately its survival is threatened by the advance of human activity in its natural habitat.
Origin and habitat of the goliath frog
The Goliath frog (Conraua goliath) is a species native to West Africa, belonging to the family Conrauidae, which includes different amphibians anurans native to the west of the African continent. Its population is mainly concentrated between mainland Guinea and Cameroon, more precisely in a region called Nkongsamba In their natural habitat, they tend to show a clear predilection for humid and dense forests, being able to survive at altitudes of up to 1000 meters above sea level.
Although they adapt better to tropical climates with high temperatures, they tend to concentrate near bodies of water, such as waterfalls, the rivers or small streams that allow them to keep their skin and body well hydrated, as well as help them regulate their body temperature more easily.
Its name is due to its disproportionate size, unusual among frogs, making a clear reference to the giant biblical soldier Goliath, who served the army of the Philistines and, on a certain occasion, would have met his death after losing a battle to the "little" Israeli David.
Aspect and morphology of the goliath frog
The Goliath frog, as its name suggests, is a robust amphibian of large size, which can measure up to about 33 cm in adulthood from the tip of its snout to the cloaca, and about 80 cm when its body is fully stretched. Likewise, most specimens of this species usually measure between 17 and 25 cm, with a body weight that can vary between 600 g and 3 kg
This giant amphibian stands out for its large eyes, always well separated from each other, and can have a diameter of up to 2.5 cm and appear somewhat jumpy. Its hind legs are longer than the front ones, and in all of them we find interacting membranes that allow it to swim with great dexterity.
On its back, the Goliath frog displays moist, grainy skin, the color of which can range from olive green to a shade of coffee brownIn turn, the skin on its belly is thinner and smoother, exhibiting softer shades that can be yellowish, orange or cream-colored. Although the adults of this species are very easy to distinguish from other frogs, their tadpoles are very similar to other species, not revealing a particularly remarkable size.
Goliath Frog Behavior
Goliath frogs are often most active at night, when they scavenge along riverbanks and waterfalls in search of prey, taking advantage of its privileged vision and its ability to make great jumps with its long hind legs. Adult individuals tend to spend much of their time among rocks, where they can rest and hide from predators, while younger Goliath frogs spend much of their days underwater
Regarding its diet, the Goliath frog is a carnivorous animal that behaves as an important predator in its natural habitat. These amphibians are skilled hunters, whose diet usually includes the consumption of insects, worms, crustaceans, lobsters, fish, molluscs, small snakes, turtles, salamanders and even other smaller frog species.
However, during the first stage of their lives, Goliath frog tadpoles maintain a herbivorous diet, since their diet is based solely on the consumption of a plant aquatic called Dicraeia warmingii, which inhabits mainly fast-moving bodies of water, near which Goliath frogs live.
Although the Goliath frog has gained some popularity as a pet in recent decades, Not usually very well adapted to life in captivity These amphibians can suffer greatly from changes in the environment and are often easily affected by stress, as well as being difficult to provide them with a fresh and natural diet that fully meets their nutritional requirements.
Goliath frog reproduction
Despite the absence of vocal sacs, males often emit a kind of whistle with their mouths open to attract females during breeding seasons. Upon hearing this sexual call, the females go out in search of fertile males to carry out mating. Likewise, it is not yet known exactly what are the characteristics of the males that are capable of conquering the preference of the females.
Like many amphibians with aquatic life cycles, Goliath frogs need water to reproduce. With the arrival of the mating season, the males concentrate in the rocky regions of the tropical forests and from there they emit their peculiar sexual call to attract the females
Some months after mating, the females head to the spawning areas previously built by the males indoors and/or to the sides of the bodies of water near which they live. At this time, they lay hundreds of tiny eggs in the water, some of which stick to aquatic vegetation, while several settle to the bottom of the mass of water.
This abundant laying is very important for the survival of the Goliath herd, since a large part of the fertilized eggs end up becoming food for aquatic predators. A small number reach hatching after about 85 and 95 days, the time it takes for their larvae to develop. An even smaller number of young individuals reach adulthood, with a life expectancy of between 10 and 15 years
Goliath Frog Conservation Status
Despite having few natural predators, such as snakes and crocodiles, man is the main threat to the survival of the Goliath frogs. In addition to advancing on their habitat to build settlements and use the land for agricultural activities, man continues to hunt Goliath frogs to consume their meat, use them in the cruel frog races or trade them as exotic pets.
For all these reasons, the Goliath frog is currently considered an endangered species, according to the Red List of Threatened Species, conducted by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). Although protected in some national parks in West Africa, the population of Goliath frogs continues to decline.
To try to reverse this negative scenario, initiatives are being promoted that seek to make the local population aware of the importance of the Goliath frog for the balance of ecosystems and limit the expansion of productive areas, in order to respect the natural habitat of this species.
