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.