# African Clawed Frogs (*Xenopus*) African Clawed Frogs are fun and friendly frogs that love to swim! They have special claws on their feet that help them dig and catch food in the water. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** African Clawed Frog, African Clawed Toad, African Frog, Clawed Frog, Platanna ![African Clawed Frogs](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426031/objects/3964.jpg) ## Appearance The African Clawed Frog has a flattened, olive-green to brownish body with a pale underside. It has small eyes on top of its head, no eyelids, and fully webbed hind feet with three sharp black claws on its inner toes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Anura - **Family:** Pipidae - **Genus:** Xenopus ## Interesting facts - African Clawed Frogs don't have a tongue and use their tiny hands to shove food into their mouths! - These frogs were once used for early pregnancy tests because they react to hormones! - They can survive droughts by burying themselves in mud and forming a protective cocoon! - They can swim backward and forward with equal ease, making them excellent underwater maneuverers! ## Special abilities - **Super Sensors:** African Clawed Frogs can detect vibrations in water using a special lateral line system, helping them find prey in murky ponds. - **Claw Power:** African Clawed Frogs have sharp black claws on their back feet that help them dig into mud and tear apart food. - **No Blink Vision:** African Clawed Frogs have no eyelids, so their eyes are always open, protected by a layer of mucus underwater. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-13 cm - **Weight:** 0.02-0.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 7 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 500-2000 - **Metamorphosis:** 42-70 days ## Diet & Feeding These hungry frogs eat almost anything they can fit into their mouths, mostly meat! - **Age differences:** Young tadpoles are filter-feeders, straining tiny particles from the water. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic insects, crustaceans, small fish, tadpoles, worms, carrion - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** water flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — Consumes tiny water fleas and other aquatic invertebrates. - **Eats:** Nile Tilapia (*Oreochromis niloticus*) — Sometimes preys on small fish and tadpoles, including tilapia. - **Eaten by:** African Sharptooth Catfish (*Clarias gariepinus*) — Large African catfish are known predators of these frogs. - **Eaten by:** [Grey Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grey-heron) (*Ardea cinerea*) — Herons are common bird predators in their watery habitats. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching frogs, and never catch them without adult supervision. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify African Clawed Frogs? Check the toe pads, leg length, eye markings, back pattern and body shape. Don't lean on color: some frogs change shade to match their surroundings. Frog Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is African Clawed Frogs? 5-13 cm ### How much does African Clawed Frogs weigh? 0.02-0.2 kg ### How long does African Clawed Frogs live? 10-20 years ### How fast can African Clawed Frogs move? 7 km/h ### What does African Clawed Frogs eat? These hungry frogs eat almost anything they can fit into their mouths, mostly meat! ### Where is African Clawed Frogs usually found? Wetlands ### How does African Clawed Frogs hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Mission Bay Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mission-bay-park) — California, US · Park ## Watch - [Play video: African Clawed Frogs](https://www.snappit.app/videos/african-clawed-frogs) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=tciJtuGfdL8) ## More Amphibians - [Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon cinereus*) - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) --- Source: [African Clawed Frogs: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-clawed-frogs)