The goliath frog belongs to the class of amphibians, the order of amphibians. It lives only in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea (Africa). Fully lives up to its name, since its weight can reach 3.5 kg (and according to some reports up to 6 kg), and the body length can reach 32 cm, excluding paws. This frog is the largest of all known to date.
Outwardly similar to an ordinary frog. Females are larger than males. The color of the skin on the back and head is greenish brown, and the abdomen and paws on the inside are yellowish or cream. The skin on the back is wrinkled. Her paws are larger than the male palm in size. This frog does not make any sounds, since there is no voice bag in its throat. The one who was fortunate enough to hold it in his hands says: it feels as if you are holding a rubber ball filled with wet sand.
The goliath frog lives only in pure water enriched with oxygen, unlike its relatives, who can live in swamps. These criteria correspond to full-flowing tropical rivers with waterfalls. It is also demanding for the temperature of the water in the pond, it is necessary for it not to fall below 22 0 C. The humidity of the air on land needs high. She does not favor too lighted places with the sun; she prefers shaded areas. Here is such a fastidious goliath frog. The photo shows her well.
Adults are very careful, even shy, it is not easy to catch them. They have excellent vision, they view the area at 40 m, noting any changes. For most of the day, the Goliath frog sits quietly in a favorite place near the waterfall. In any danger, she jumps into a stormy water stream. Under water can be up to 15 minutes, hiding on the river bottom among the stones.
After the lapse of time, the goliath frog pops up, but does not show up entirely, only eyes and the tip of the nose peep out of the water. If she considers that the danger has passed, then with several jerking movements reaches the shore and gets out of the water. Jumping on land, climbs on ledges of stones or settles down just below the waterfall. Pose accepts convenient for the next jump, which will be completed in case of danger or when detecting prey.
The goliath frog eats various insects and their larvae, worms, crustaceans, small amphibians, etc. Grabbing its prey with its jaws and tongue, it first squeezes it and then swallows it without biting it.
Goliath is a frog breeding in the dry season. The female lays about 10 thousand eggs in 5-6 days. Each egg in diameter reaches 0.6 cm. The transformation of an egg into an adult occurs in 70 days. Hatching from an egg, the tadpole is only 0.8 cm, at 45 days of age, its body length reaches 4.8 cm. At this time, the tadpole transforms into a frog by falling off its tail.
Today, the goliath frog is on the verge of extinction. This is due to the fact that the local population eats goliath frogs with pleasure. Restaurants are willing to pay $ 5 for each large individual. They are said to have a sweetish taste. Forests, in the depths of which the frog lives on the banks of rivers, are cut down. In addition, goliaths are exported abroad, depriving the familiar environment, sold to various zoos in the world and to private collectors. Somehow in the United States they tried to breed Goliaths in captivity, but the plan did not succeed, since it turned out to be problematic to reproduce the conditions required for their life.
