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Ieyasu Tokugawa
Guest
Enormous bullfrog eats mouse
An unfortunate mouse peers out from the gaping jaws of an African bullfrog in this extraordinary photograph.
Published: 7:03AM GMT 03 Nov 2010
A mouse looks out from the jaws of a huge voracious African bullfrog. These carnivorous amphibians have an aggressive temper and can jump 3.5 metres. Photo: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/ BARCROFT MEDIA
The enormous amphibians, unlike the docile frogs found in English garden ponds, are known for their aggressive nature and will attack virtually any animal that comes within reach. African bullfrogs lie in wait for their prey before suddenly lunging when they sense movement nearby, and are capable of jumping up to three and a half metres.
The leviathans, which can weigh up to 2kg (4.4lbs), are native to central and southern Africa but are kept as pets around the world. Owners commonly refer to the beasts as "pixie frogs" – a reference to their Latin name, Pyxicephalus adspersus, rather than their distinctly un-pixie like size and appearance.