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Rana catesbeiana (Bullfrog)

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Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)
Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia
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Abstract

RANA CATESBEIANA (Bullfrog). ECUADOR: PROVINCIA DE NAPO: Carretera Puyo-Tena, ca. 50 km (by road) from Puyo (ca. 77º50’W, 01º08’S, ca. 400 m). 18 March 2000. D. F. Cisneros-Heredia, M. Brandt, A. Chiriboga, G. Reck. Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito (DFCH-USFQ 750; juvenile active at 1830 h in flooded grassland, ca. 100 m from an abandoned bullfrog farm). Verified by J. M. Touzet. Rana catesbeiana was introduced to Ecuador in 1988 with the importation of 100 adults and 70.000 tadpoles for commercial purposes; and although initially the bullfrog farms were located in western Ecuador, now they are spread along the western and eastern lowlands (ECOLAP. 1998. El Manejo para la Protección y el Uso Sustentable de la Vida Silvestre en el Ecuador. Proyecto INEFAN/GEF act. 20, Quito; Cano et al. 2000. In: La Biodiversidad del Ecuador Informe 2000. Ministerio del Ambiente, EcoCiencia and IUCN.). Specimen reported herein is the first of this alien taxon from outside of farms. This record and observations in the surroundings of Bahía de Caráquez (ca. 80º20’W, 00º40’S, ca. 8 m), province of Manabí, confirm that Bullfrogs are escaping and probably establishing feral populations in Ecuador (tadpoles and amplectant pairs were observed in ditches at the locality in the province of Napo).
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Herpetological Review 35(4): 406; 2004
© 2004 by Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
RANA CATESBEIANA (Bullfrog). ECUADOR: PROVINCIA
DE NAPO: Carretera Puyo-Tena, ca. 50 km (by road) from Puyo
(ca. 77º50’W, 01º08’S, ca. 400 m). 18 March 2000. D. F.
Cisneros-Heredia, M. Brandt, A. Chiriboga, G. Reck. Universidad
San Francisco de Quito, Quito (DFCH-USFQ 750; juvenile active
at 1830 h in flooded grassland, ca. 100 m from an abandoned
bullfrog farm). Verified by J. M. Touzet. Rana catesbeiana was
introduced to Ecuador in 1988 with the importation of 100 adults
and 70.000 tadpoles for commercial purposes; and although
initially the bullfrog farms were located in western Ecuador, now
they are spread along the western and eastern lowlands (ECOLAP.
1998. El Manejo para la Protección y el Uso Sustentable de la
Vida Silvestre en el Ecuador. Proyecto INEFAN/GEF act. 20,
Quito; Cano et al. 2000. In: La Biodiversidad del Ecuador Informe
2000. Ministerio del Ambiente, EcoCiencia and IUCN.). Specimen
reported herein is the first of this alien taxon from outside of farms.
This record and observations in the surroundings of Bahía de
Caráquez (ca. 80º20’W, 00º40’S, ca. 8 m), province of Manabí,
confirm that Bullfrogs are escaping and probably establishing feral
populations in Ecuador (tadpoles and amplectant pairs were
observed in ditches at the locality in the province of Napo).
Submitted by DIEGO F. CISNEROS-HEREDIA, College of
Biological and Environmental Sciences, Universidad San Fran-
cisco de Quito, Ave. Interoceánica y calle Diego de Robles, Cam-
pus Cumbayá, Edif. Maxwell. Casilla Postal 17-12-841, Quito,
Ecuador. e-mail: diegofrancisco_cisneros@yahoo.com.
Herpetological Review 35(4), 2004
... It is mainly farmed as a protein source for human consumption, but it has also been released as a biological control agent or as an ornamental species (Jennings and Hayes 1985). In South America, it was introduced to Brazil (Both et al. 2011), Colombia (Rueda-Almonacid 1999, Ecuador (Cisneros-Heredia 2004;Cobos et al. 2015;Valarezo-Aguilar et al. 2016), Peru (Catenazzi and von May 2014), Uruguay (Laufer et al. 2008), Argentina (Sanabria et al. 2011) andVenezuela (Hanselmann et al. 2004). ...
... During the 90's, twenty three farms were established in Ecuadorian Amazonia (sixteen in Zamora Chinchipe, five in Napo, two in Pastaza and two in Morona Santiago) and; six farms in the Ecuadorian Coast (four in Guayas and two in Los Ríos) (Villacis and Zurita 2002). In Amazonia, feral populations of this exotic species were reported nearby an abandoned bullfrog farm in Napo province (Cisneros-Heredia 2004) and in a biological station (CEDAMAZ) located in the Zamora Chinchipe province (Valarezo-Aguilar et al. 2016). In Andes, a feral population of bullfrog was reported in a recreational park in Loja city (Loja province; Cobos et al. 2015). ...
... Previous accounts of L. catesbeianus were restricted to the Amazon (Napo and Zamora Chinchipe), the Andean (Loja) and, the Coast (Manabí) regions of Ecuador (Cisneros-Heredia 2004;Valarezo-Aguilar 2012;Cobos et al. 2015). This new record from Santay Island, in the outermost part of the Guayas river basin, is the first for a feral population inside a protected area or Ramsar site in Ecuador. ...
New record of a feral population of Lithobates catesbeianus Shaw, 1802 in a protected area (Santay Island) in the Ecuadorian coast
Article
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  • Mar 2020
The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), an amphibian species native to eastern North America, is considered one of the 100 most harmful invasive species in the world. Previous studies document several feral populations in the Amazon and Andean regions of Ecuador. Only few adults have been reported in the Coast region, despite some evidence suggesting its introduction 31 years ago. Using visual and auditory cues, we explored a 490-hectare wetland area at Santay Island, a protected sanctuary and a Ramsar site on the Ecuadorian Coast. Bullfrogs were detected in seven out of 15 sampled ponds in all types of habitats except for mangroves. The low abundance of adults and juveniles suggests a recently established population. This is the first record of a feral population inside a protected area or Ramsar site in Ecuador. In accordance with the Ramsar Convention mission of preserving wetlands, we propose two strategies to manage bullfrogs at Santay Island.
... La provincia de Zamora Chinchipe, es la zona de la amazonia donde existen más ranarios que ninguna otro provincia ecuatoriana (16 de los 31 que existen en el país) (Villacís y Zurita, 2002), en los cuales Ortega (2007) evidenció el escape de individuos jóvenes y adultos hacia los ecosistemas adyacentes. Cisneros-Heredia (2004) reporta una población de rana toro aparentemente establecida en Ecuador, la misma fue registrada en una localidad de la provincia de Napo, Amazonía ecuatoriana. Además, menciona observaciones adicionales de ranas toro escapadas en la provincia de Manabí. ...
Superposición de nicho trófico entre Lithobates catesbeiana (rana toro) y Rhinella marina (sapo) en Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2015
Lithobates catesbeiana (rana toro), catalogada entre las peores especies invasoras a nivel mundial, fue introducida en Ecuador en 1988 con fines económicos y desde entonces se han observado numerosas poblaciones ferales; sin embargo, no se ha realizado ningún estudio sobre su impacto hacia las especies nativas. En base a lo reportado en otros países, el presente trabajo investiga la dieta y la superposición de nicho trófico entre Lithobates catesbeiana y Rhinella marina. Se muestrearon 16 ranarios legalmente establecidos donde se abarcó el contorno y fuentes de agua cercanas de cada ranario desde las 19h00 a 22h00. Se caracterizó el contenido estomacal y se midio: talla, peso y estadio de 215 individuos, de los cuales 170 correspondieron a Lithobates catesbeiana y 45 a Rhinella marina; 99 fueron machos, 47 hembras y 67 jóvenes. La fase de campo se realizó entre agosto y noviembre del 2010. Se registraron 1156 presas dentro de 50 categorías dietéticas. El 19,05 % de los adultos presentaron estómagos llenos mientras el 37,78 % de jóvenes tenían estómagos vacíos. Las hormigas fueron las presas más importantes numéricamente de las dos especies de anuros, seguidas por las larvas de dípteros (18,69 %) e isópodos (5,71 %). Volumétricamente, la presa más importante fueron los renacuajos de Lithobates catesbeiana con el 58,44 %, seguida por gasterópoda Pomacea sp. (con 6,29 %) y larva de lepidóptera (5,31 %). No existió superposición de nicho trófico entre Lithobates catesbiana y Rhinella marina.
... L. catesbeianus has been widely introduced around the world. In South America, it has been introduced to Brazil (Borges-Martins et al., 2002), Chile (Lever, 2003), Colombia (Rueda Almonacid, 2000), Ecuador (Cisneros- Heredia, 2004), Guayana (Rueda-Almonacid, 1999), Paraguay (Frost, 2009), Perú (Rueda-Almonacid, 1999), Uruguay ( Laufer et al., 2008), and Venezuela ( Hanselmann et al. 2004 We discovered this new population in an agricultural area in Cerro Blanco, Zonda Department, San Juan Province, Argentina (31° 55' S, 68° 70' W; 650 m). The region is part of the phytogeographic province of Monte, which has an arid climate and a mean annual temperature of 17.3 ºC (mean annual minimum and maximum: 10.4 and 25.7 ºC, respectively) and a mean annual rainfall of 89 mm, which falls mainly in summer (Cabrera, 1994). ...
A new record for American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in San Juan, Argentina
Article
Full-text available
We report a new record of Lithobates catesbeianus (American bullfrog) from Argentina. L. catesbeianus was first introduced to San Juan Province 11 years ago in Calingasta Department, where the habitat is pre-cordilleran. The new record is for Zonda Department, San Juan Province, in the Monte desert region. Here, L. catesbeianus uses artificial ponds for reproduction and tadpole development. These ponds receive water from an irrigation system that connects the whole agriculture land in the region. The tadpoles use the irrigation canals to move among ponds. We suggest that legislation should be established to prevent future invasions and to achieve sustainable management of the wild American bullfrog populations in San Juan. Prevention of future invasion and management of established populations of this species requires the cooperation of numerous stake holders.
... En el caso particular de Sudamérica se ha reportado la presencia de poblaciones asilvestradas de esta especie en Brasil (Borges-Martins et al., 2002), Ecuador (Cisneros-Heredia, 2004), Venezuela (Hanselmann et al., 2004), Uruguay (Laufer et al., 2007), Colombia y Perú (Frost, 2008). En Argentina se ha constatado la presencia de poblaciones asilvestradas de Lithobates catesbeianus en las provincias de San Juan (Sanabria et al., 2005) y de Misiones (Pereyra et al., 2006). ...
Primer registro de una población asilvestrada de rana toro (Lithobates catesbeianus) en la Provincia de Córdoba, Argentina: Notas sobre la biología de la especie
Article
Full-text available
  • May 2009
En Argentina se ha constatado la presencia de poblaciones asilvestradas de Lithobates catesbeianus en las provincias de San Juan (Sanabria et al., 2005) y de Misiones (Pereyra et al., 2006). Las ranas toro pueden eliminar a los anfibios nativos directamente a través de predación o competencia por interferencia, o indirectamente por competencia por explotación, modificación del comportamiento, alteración del hábitat o introducción de enfermedades o parásitos (Boone et al., 2004). El presente trabajo se realizó en la localidad de Agua de las Piedras (30º48' 46,2"S; 64º12'57,9"O; 760 msnm), la cual se encuentra a 65 km al norte de la ciudad de Córdoba, provincia de Córdoba, Argentina.
Introducción de la rana toro Lithobates catesbeiana: implicaciones para la biodiversidad ecuatoriana
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  • Jan 2012
A New Distribution Record for the Invasive American Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus Shaw 1802) (Anura: Ranidae), from Eastern Ecuador
Article
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  • Aug 2016
Third established feral population of American Bullfrogs Lithobates catesbeianus in Ecuador.
REGISTRO DE UNA POBLACIÓN ASILVESTRADA DE RANA TORO (Lithobates catesbeianus) (AMPHIBIA: ANURA: RANIDAE) EN EL DEPARTAMENTO DE MALDONADO, URUGUAY.
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  • Jan 2016
We report the first feral population of Lithobates catesbeianus from Maldonado, whose origin is associated with a farm that was in activity between years 1993 and 2001. A potential expansion of this species toward the low basin of Maldonado stream could compromise the conservation of threatened anurans that occurs there.
Fish and amphibians as bat predators
Article
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  • Dec 2015
Although bats (Chiroptera) belong to the most diverse mammalian orders, study of diversity of their natural predators has been seriously neglected for a long time. While some recent reviews contain comprehensive overviews of our recent knowledge on these phenomena for some animal groups, such work is still lacking for anamniotes - fishes and amphibians. Here, I am summarising bat predation incidences by anamniotes that were published in scientific journals and public web domains. I found out that at least 14 species of fishes and 14 species of frogs were observed as feeding on bats. Moreover, 7 and 16 species of bats were recorded as victims of hunting activity of fishes and frogs, respectively. Majority of localised incidences came from the New World; frog (between latitude 49°N to 28°S) attacks were distributed mainly in tropical or subtropical areas < 30° from equator (70% of all records), fish (44°N to 20°S) incidences reach same proportion in colder areas (> 30° from equator) and warmer areas. In some cases, these predators can regularly feed on bats, especially when hunting near roosting places of bats; however, with respect to number of recorded cases (21 for fishes and 37 for amphibians), bat predation by anamniotes seems to be very rare and opportunistic with only very limited influence on bat populations or their behaviour.
First record of an American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) Population in Loja, Ecuador
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2015
Diet composition of introduced bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, in the Mizorogaike Pond of Kyoto, Japan
Article
I analyzed stomach contents of the American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, in the Mizorogaike Pond of Kyoto, Japan. As a result, adult bullfrogs were found to feed predominantly on crayfish, and juveniles eat diverse arthropods. A wide variety of aquatic organisms occurred in the diet of both adult and juvenile bullfrogs.
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