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Tomato Frog
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Tomato Frog
Dyscophus antongilli
The tomato frog is found only on the large island of Madagascar. A tropical frog, they prefer their habitat temperature to be around 80 degrees F. As the name
indicates, tomato frogs are tomato red with a black eye line and green eyes. The |
females are brighter red and larger than the males.
As with many frogs, tomato frogs are generalists. They eat all sorts of large insects and their larvae, both terrestrial and aquatic. Other invertebrates are also consumed. Tomato frogs spend
equal time in and out of water, even though they are not strong swimmers. They sit beneath a protective rock or plant and wait for food items to happen by. They like quiet, shallow water.
When confronted by a predator, tomato frogs will puff themselves up and bluff. If the bluff does not work and the serpent attacks anyway, the tomato frog's skin begins to secrete a thick,
whitish substance that looks very much like Elmer's Glue. Interestingly, it works like it too, gumming up the teeth and then mouth of the attacker. The snake will release the frog in order to
free its mouth. The material will take a couple of days to clear out of the snake's mouth.
Breeding occurs in the cool months of the year and the female lays several hundred eggs. The tadpoles hatch in a couple of days. Captive breeding programs have proved moderately successful
after frog-breeding techniques improved in recent times.
These frogs have suffered sever habitat loss because of human encroachment. As an island species, they are certainly in jeopardy. |
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