African Clawed Frog General Information and facts

General Information

Genus Xenopus

(meaning "strange foot")

There are 14 species in the Xenopus genus. They are aquatic frogs with

long unwebbed fingers, and fully webbed feet with small claws on three

toes. The body is flattened with lidless eyes on top of the head, and

they have no tongue. The fingers are used to direct food towards the

mouth. Like fish, these frogs have a lateral line sensory system running

from head to vent. Under normal circumstances, Xenopus frogs never leave

the water, although they have occasionally been known to migrate if

their home pond dries up. These frogs are well suited for aquatic life,

able to swim in all directions, including backwards, with ease.

Air-breathing, they depend on well developed lungs.

General Description of the Upland Clawed Frog Range

These small (4") Xenopus clawed frogs are found in veldt (grassland)

ponds and lakes in arid and semi-arid regions across most of southern

Africa. Two species of clawed frogs, the Upland Clawed frog (X. laevis)

and Mueller's clawed frog (X. muelleri), occur along the western

boundary of the Great African Rift.

General Appearance

They have a flat body, a head smaller than their body, eyes on top of

their head, and the eyes are small, round and lacking eyelids. Front

limbs are small and unwebbed with their four fingers sticking out

stiffly from the body. Hind legs are large, webbed, and the inner toes

(I, II, III) are tipped with small claws; toes IV and V have none.

Color Pattern

Xenopus are multicolored, with their backs in various shades of olive

gray with large gray blotches. Their bellies are creamy white, with

creamy white toes and legs; a yellow tinge may be present.

Other Body Features

There is no visible tympanum (ear); their skin is smooth with a stitched

appearance (lateral line); males lack cloacal (discharge canal cavity)

flaps. Males develop darkened "nuptial pads" on inner forearms and

fingers during mating season.

Calls

Both the males and females call from underwater. Despite the fact males

have no vocal sacs, they can be heard at distances of 100 yards. The

call is a metallic clicking sound lasting about 1/2 second, uttered at a

rate of 100 per minute.

Reproduction

Breeding among frogs in the genus Xenopus contains both primitive and

highly specialized elements. Amplexus (mating embrace) is pelvic or

inguinal (in the groin). This is where the male grasps the female with

his forearms just above her hind legs. More advanced frogs use axillary

amplexus (male grasps the female near her front limbs). While embraced,

both frogs will perform a series of somersaults, the eggs released and

fertilized while in the upside down position just under the water

surface. They will then right themselves as they approach the pond

bottom and repeat the circular motion until all eggs are expelled. Up to

2,000 eggs can be laid by a single female. The eggs are scattered over

the area, and are unprotected. The larvae eat very small plant

particles. They metamorphose in 40 days and change to a carnivorous

diet. They reach sexual maturity in 10 months and can live 10-15 years.

Check out some personal frog owners stories on ages or view some documented stats here.

Man and Xenopus

For many years, clawed frogs have been used as a laboratory animal, and

in studies of vertebrate embryology. They were brought to the U.S. in

the 1940s and used to diagnose pregnancy: the female frogs began to lay

eggs when injected with the urine of a pregnant woman. These frogs were

very inexpensive and easy to keep. Since more modern methods of

pregnancy testing has been developed, thousands of clawed frogs have

been released and have firmly established themselves in the streams and

ponds of the American southwest where they are a threat to native frogs.

The importation or possession of clawed frogs is now illegal in many

western states.

Captive Care

Clawed frogs make great pets and are very easy to care for. They should

be kept in a large aquarium (allow 10 gallons of water per frog) with

water temperature in the mid to upper 70s. The water level should be no

more than 12 inches; this will enable the frogs to easily reach the

surface to breathe. They are excellent jumpers, so a secure lid is a

must. Hiding places, such as rocks, driftwood and flowerpot halves

should be provided. No plants, please! At least not real ones. Plastic

ones have worked good for mine...Their digging will uproot and destroy them.

Diet should be varied: small worms, insects, and feeder guppies, and they

will also accept prepared foods, such as Tetra's Repto-Min. They are somewhat

messy animals - you will need to change the water frequently or use a good aquarium filtration system.

Note: Xenopus are illegal to sell in the state of California. There are

small clawed frogs which are being legally sold whose care is the same

as for the Xenopus.

Above information sent by Esty and taken from "Marindale's Reference"

African Clawed Frog Facts