American Bullfrog

Scientific Name

Lithobates catesbeianus (formerly known as Rana catesbeiana) (ITIS)

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)

Means of Introduction

Most introductions have been associated with escapes from aquaculture operations. Other pathways include bait used for recreational fishing and escapes or releases through the pet trade, landscape ponds, research, and teaching (Adams and Pearl 2007).

Impact

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

Current U.S. Distribution

Western U.S.

American bullfrog, adult

Credit

Photo by Russ Ottens; University of Georgia

Source

Invasive.org.

Find more images

Spotlights

Invasive Species Bullfrog and Snake Cost World $16bn - Study
- Jul 29, 2022
- BBC News.
- Scientists tallying the economic damage wrought by invasive pests across the world found two species are responsible for more harm than any other.
  
  The American bullfrog and brown tree snake have collectively caused $16.3bn in global damage since 1986. In addition to ecological harm, the invasive pair have ruined farm crops and triggered costly power outages.

Distribution / Maps / Survey Status

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database: Point Map - American Bullfrog
- DOI. USGS. Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
- Provides detailed collection information as well as animated map.

Videos

YouTube - Help Stop the Spread of Bullfrogs in WY
- Google. YouTube; Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

All Resources

View and Filter All American Bullfrog Resources

Selected Resources

The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source.

Council or Task Force

American Bullfrog - Invasive Predator
- Oregon Invasive Species Council.
Priority Species: Bullfrog
- Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. Washington Invasive Species Council.

Partnership

Global Invasive Species Database - Lithobates catesbeianus (amphibian)
- IUCN. Species Survival Commission. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Invasive Species Compendium - Rana catesbeiana
- CAB International.
Non-native Species Information: American Bullfrog
- Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat.

Federal Government

American Bullfrog Invasion and Impacts on Native Species in the Pacific Northwest
- Apr 2023
- DOI. USGS. Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center.
- The Herpetological Research Team at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center uses innovative tools to investigate the invasion and spread of American bullfrogs in Washington and Oregon and understand how bullfrogs are interacting with native amphibians.
Biological Invaders: The American Bullfrog
- USDA. FS. Plumas National Forest.
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database: Fact Sheet - American Bullfrog
- DOI. USGS. Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
- Provides distribution maps and collection information (State and County).

State and Local Government

Aquatic Invasive Species - American Bullfrog
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
California's Invaders: American Bullfrog
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Invasive Species - Bullfrog
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Academic

Animal Diversity Web - Lithobates catesbeianus
- University of Michigan. Museum of Zoology.
Aquatic Invasions! A Menace to the West - American Bullfrog [PDF, 638 KB]
- Oregon Sea Grant.
- See also: Species Guides for more resources
Introduced Species Summary Project - North American Bullfrog
- Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Invasive Reptiles and Amphibians - American Bullfrog
- University of California. Agriculture and Natural Resources. California Aquatic Invasive Species.

Citations

Adams M.J., and C.A. Pearl. 2007. Problems and opportunities managing invasive Bullfrogs: is there any hope? In: Gherardi, F. (eds) Biological invaders in inland waters: Profiles, distribution, and threats. Invading Nature - Springer Series In Invasion Ecology, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht.
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.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Lithobates catesbeianus. [Accessed Mar 4, 2023].

Find more images

Spotlights

Invasive Species Bullfrog and Snake Cost World $16bn - Study

Distribution / Maps / Survey Status

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database: Point Map - American Bullfrog

Videos

YouTube - Help Stop the Spread of Bullfrogs in WY

All Resources

Selected Resources

American Bullfrog - Invasive Predator

Priority Species: Bullfrog

Global Invasive Species Database - Lithobates catesbeianus (amphibian)

Invasive Species Compendium - Rana catesbeiana

Non-native Species Information: American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog Invasion and Impacts on Native Species in the Pacific Northwest

Biological Invaders: The American Bullfrog

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database: Fact Sheet - American Bullfrog

Aquatic Invasive Species - American Bullfrog

California's Invaders: American Bullfrog

Invasive Species - Bullfrog

Animal Diversity Web - Lithobates catesbeianus

Aquatic Invasions! A Menace to the West - American Bullfrog [PDF, 638 KB]

Introduced Species Summary Project - North American Bullfrog

Invasive Reptiles and Amphibians - American Bullfrog