From: itannman@dogbert.ucdavis.edu (Ann Mansker)
Subject: Critter of the Week: Conraua goliath
Date: 1999/04/13
Newsgroups: ucd.life


As the species name implies, the Goliath Frog is a giant, the largest frog
in the world.  This image, though somewhat dark, gives a good sense of the
creature's size: http://w3.one.net/~inky/Pictures/giant.gif .  For scale,
the other animal in the picture appears to be a small gazelle fawn.  The
Goliath frog attains a head and body length of just over 12 inches.  With
the legs stretched out, they are often over two and a half feet.  Top
weight is slightly over 7 pounds.  This gigantism only surfaces when the
frog matures; the eggs and tadpoles are about average in size.

Though courtship in frogs and toads is notably vocal, Goliath frogs lack
a vocal sac and are thus mute.  Like all of their relatives, they eat
insects, but their size also permits them to take larger prey, such as
crustaceans, fish, and amphibians (including other frogs).

Goliath Frogs have a very restricted range and habitat.  They are found
only in coastal Cameroon and Equitorial Guinea.  Their habit, which is
in the process of being wiped out, is a few fast rivers in dense rain
forest.  Since Goliath frogs don't do well in captivity, their long term
survival is in doubt.