The Goliath Frog (Conraua goliath), Largest Frog in the World

Common Name: Goliath Frog or Giant Slippery Frog
Scientific Name: Conraua goliath
Family: Conrauidae – the Slippery Frog family
Location: Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea
Size: 13 inches (33.02 cm) – Largest living frog species

The Goliath Frogs lives in fast-moving streams in tropical rain forests of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

The Goliath Frogs breed during the regular dry season (July and August) and also during the short, dry season in December and January. The males battle it out for the best breeding territory by the river. It was once believed that the frog doesn’t have a mating call and relies on whistle. However, research has found that they do in fact have mating calls, including chirps, roars, and whistles.

The males also create nests out of rocks in the river. These nests can be HUGE, up to 3 feet wide. Some researchers believe that the Goliath Frog got so large due to it moving heavy rocks around. After the male makes a nest, the pair will move in, and the male will grasp the female from behind in the amplexus position. Next, the female frogs will lay her eggs and the male will fertilize them. The female lays between 150 – 350 eggs but can lay up to 2,800 eggs. Once the eggs are laid, the female protects the eggs from predators for a short while.

The tadpoles only eat the plant Dicraeia warmingii, which could be why the frog has such a tiny range where they live.

Goliath Frog Conservation

Sadly, the Goliath Frog is listed as Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Redlist. They face challenges on two sides. Their tropical rain forest habitat is being cut down to make room for plantations and houses. The frogs are also hunted for their food and for the pet trade.