The Frog Forum Nature Fun Links
Nature     calling fighting defences territory migration feeding

Fighting

Frogs are mostly thought of as non aggressive animals but there are some species who show territorial defense. Defending popular areas of feeding shelter and breeding. Mostly it's the males that are aggressive to other males especially during breeding times.

Many frogs 'call' to warn other frogs away from their territory. The frogs voice can be an indication of it's age, health and size, so showing what possible match it might be to an intruder. Frogs of a similar size ad strength seem to fight most as smaller frogs tend to run away from larger aggressors. Colour change can also be used as a deterrent.

The Water Helmeted Toad, Caudiverbera caudiverbera, inflates itself and rises on all it's legs, then calling leaps at predators to scare them away.

In species that fight, spines can grow on their thumbs, arms or chest. Female fights can involve kicking, leaping and holding the other frogs head. Other fighting methods include shoving with the chest, leaping on the opponent's back and aggressive calling.

The gladiator tree frog (Hyla boans) have a sort of spiny growth on the back foot that is used in combat, which can even fatally wound others of the same species.

African Bullfrogs are very protective parents and will attack any thing that approaches their eggs or tadpoles, including frogs, human and any other animal.