The Feeding habits of the Giant African Bullfrog (Anura: Pyxicephalidae: Pyxicephalus Adspersus Tschudi, 1839) of the Cuvelai Drainage System in Northern Namibia.

Abstract

The recorded diet of the giant African bullfrog Pyxicephalus adspersus of the Cuvelai drainage plains (the oshanas) of northern Namibia is presented. Among all the stomach contents; insects accounted for the greatest diversity of the orders recorded. The most abundant prey items to the juvenile frogs come from Orthoptera (20.0%), Lepidoptera (16.0%), Isoptera (15.5%), Coleoptera (12.0%), while to the adult frogs also come from Orthoptera (20.0%) but followed by Coleoptera (11.8%), Odontata (11.0%) and Hemiptera (10.0%) in that hierarchical order. A habit of cannibalism is indicated; tadpoles form the fifth (11.0%) and second (13.1%) most important food item for juvenile and adult frogs, respectively. Diet shift is evident, from ants to tadpoles and beetles as the frogs become larger.