Mountain Chicken Frog

Mountain Chicken Frog

Mountain Chicken Frog is one of the world’s largest frogs. It has however been a ‘critically endangered’ species. The frog has been a popular food since centuries, resulting in this decline in population. It is considered as a local delicacy in the Caribbean islands where it belongs.

Scientific Name Leptodactylus fallax

Classification – Leptodactylus

Gender Names – Male – male; Female – female; Baby – tadpole

Collective Noun – Knot

Length/Size – Up to 22 cm (8.7 in)

Weight – Up to 2 pounds

Life Expectancy – Up to 12 years in captivity

Mating Season  Begins usually in April and can extend up to September

Special Features  The color of the body resembles dry or dead leaves, which helps them in camouflage

Geographical Distribution – Islands of Montserrat and Dominica, Carribean Islands

Natural Habitat – Prefers living in burrows dug in moist soil by the edges of slow water bodies

World Population – About 8,000 (2004 census)

Conservation Status – Critically Endangered

Diet – Long list of diet include crickets, millipedes, insects, crustaceans; also small vertebrates like snakes, other frogs, small mammals including bats

Predators – Mostly humans