American Bullfrog (Incredible Creatures by Safari Ltd.)

The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is an iconic American animal. A fixture in still, shallow water portions of swamps, rivers, marshes, lakes, and ponds. Anyone out enjoying a summer night within its range is no doubt familiar with its deep, bellowing, “Jug-O-Rum” call. The largest frog native to North America, the American bullfrog has the demeanor of an apex predator. Bold and seemingly unafraid, it is capable of consuming a wide range of prey. From the typical froggy diet of small invertebrates to birds, mammals, snakes, other frogs, turtles…anything that fits down its gullet. It’s the tiger shark of frogs. In turn it is also an important prey item for herons, alligators, snakes, otters, largemouth bass, pike, and countless other animals.

The American bullfrog naturally occurs in eastern North America but has been widely introduced elsewhere on the continent and around the world, due to the culinary demand for its legs. It’s voracious appetite means it is also an invasive species where it has been introduced. Today we’re looking at the 2007 Safari Ltd. bullfrog, an appropriate addition to their Incredible Creatures line.

The Safari bullfrog measures 4.75” (12 cm) in length and stands 3” (7.6 cm) tall. This puts it at 1/1 scale for an average size American bullfrog. At their largest the American bullfrog can reach 8” (20 cm) from snout to vent and weigh 1.8 lbs. (800 g). Of course, that’s just the frog’s body, the back legs alone can add another 8-10” (20-25.4 cm). With those legs the American bullfrog can leap incredible distances. Rosie the Ribeter holds the record at 7.15’ (2.18 meters) in a single leap.

Even as tadpoles, bullfrogs are gigantic. Reaching about 6” (15 cm) in length, some tadpoles within their northern range will stay tadpoles for 1-2 years. One specimen, found in Arizona in 2018, never metamorphosed into an adult. Named Goliath, it measured 10.1” (25.6 cm) in length.

This frog is painted with your standard frog-green color palette. It is darker green dorsally with a yellow throat and underside. There is some brown coloration blended in as well, with prominent brown markings on the hips and legs. Dark green stripes are painted on the hindlimbs and feet and dark green patches are present elsewhere, such as around the eyes, snout, and tympana (eardrums). The eyes are a golden color with black pupils. A white stripe is painted around the lower jaw.

The coloration of actual bullfrogs can vary tremendously, with differing brown, green, black, white, and yellow tones and patterning. Males often have yellow throats, and larger tympana, making the Safari bullfrog a male.

The Safari bullfrog is a well-executed and surprisingly lifelike toy. The sturdy four-fingered forelimbs lack webbing, while webbing is present on the five-toed hindlimbs. The body is compact and robust, with prominent bulging hips, and a large head with a wide rounded snout. The dorsolateral folds end just behind the eyes instead of continuing down the back as they do in the visually similar green frog (L. clamitans).

The Safari bullfrog is an exceptional representation of one of my favorite animals. Aside from some plush toys it is also the only toy American bullfrog that I am aware of. Being life-sized the frog works splendidly as a prop or in educational dioramas and displays, and it’s also a great addition to a 1/1 scale collection. The Safari bullfrog has been in production for 14 years and hopefully will remain so for years to come.