Fun Philippine Frog Facts For Kids

Iram Ashfaq
Jan 12, 2023 By Iram Ashfaq
Originally Published on Sep 03, 2021
Edited by Monisha Kochhar
Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi
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fascinating Philippine frog facts for amphibian lovers

The giant Philippine frog is one of the most amazing amphibians out there!

They are most commonly found in rainforests, rivers, and lakes across the Philippines.

Although there used to be a wide variety of frogs on this island nation ranging from large ones that can eat birds to tiny ones you could fit in your hand, recently they have been decreasing like never before!

The Philippine frog is an amphibian endemic only located within few regions all situated in Southeast Asia specifically known by its scientific name Limnonectes magnus, these creatures have an extremely diverse color pattern allowing it suitable camouflage.

They are not brightly colored like most frogs, and they lack poison glands (their skin mucus may be poisonous though).

The brown-colored juvenile males grow into bright green adult male adults who have very large eyes with golden irises.

Females do not change color as much but their body shape changes more dramatically than the males' bodies when they mature from being tadpoles to becoming fully grown frogs!

They have wide eyes, plump bodies, and webbed feet which makes them great swimmers but terrible walkers on land so they spend most of their time in the water or high up on tree branches.

Philippine frogs eat insects that can be found around ponds and streams where they live or at least near those areas!

One particular characteristic that sets it apart from many other frogs is its vocalizations, which can be described as a soft moan or coo-cooing sound rather than typical croaking noises made by most other species of frog.

For more relatable content, check out these tree frog facts and red-eyed tree frog facts for kids.

Philippine Frog Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Philippine frog?

As the name suggests, these frogs are a type of frog belonging to the family Dicrogossidae.

What class of animal does a Philippine frog belong to?

Just like other frogs these frogs also belong to the class Amphibia.

How many Philippine frogs are there in the world?

The fanged frog population of the Philippines and Mindanao is dwindling. They are a Near Threatened species, but no one knows exactly how many there will be in the future or if they'll even survive to see it.

Where does a Philippine frog live?

A fanged frog (Limnonectes magnus) of the Philippines may live near a few different natural places. It might be living in the trees, swamps on land, or even underwater depending on which species it is and what time of day it finds itself most active.

What is a Philippine frog's habitat?

A Philippine frog's habitat is around freshwater areas such as tropical lowland ponds, rivers, and natural streams of the Philippines where there isn't much light so they can be hidden during the daytime away from predators. These amphibians like living close enough (but still underwater) with plants along banks.

Who do Philippine frogs live with?

Philippine frogs live with related small amphibians and animals like lizards, hermit crabs, insects such as water beetles, and spiders.

How long does a Philippine frog live?

The average lifespan of giant Philippine frogs is five years but they can live up to 10.

How do they reproduce?

The giant Philippine frogs reproduce by laying eggs that hatch into tadpoles in tropical freshwater ponds and islands. Frogs lay long, thick strings of jelly-like eggs called strands or ropes containing thousands to millions of tiny black spherical embryos and release them around the water source where they live (freshwater pond).

What is their conservation status?

The Philippine tree frog has the conservation status of Near Threatened. Its conservation is absolutely crucial.

Philippine Frog Fun Facts

What do Philippine frogs look like?

The fanged frog has a brown and gray skin tone. The head is also large compared to the rest of its body, with a pointed snout that makes it look like an arrowhead.

There are also black spots which can be found on the flanks of the back, and iris in this species eyes that range from pale yellow with small red flecks or olive-brown. The bright eyes of Philippine frogs contrast with their dark skin, giving them an adorable look.

Philippine Frog

How cute are they?

The giant Philippine frogs, which look very cute at first glance, are actually creepy.

How do they communicate?

The giant fanged frog (Limnonectes magnus) species of the Philippines and Mindanao region is a unique species that communicates by making loud sounds like grunts and groans to make sure they don't get separated from their groups in an effort to protect themselves against predators such as snakes.

How big is a Philippine frog?

The giant fanged frog species is 8 in (20.3 cm) in length and has a distinct, deep call. This frog is heavily built with short hind legs for an aquatic lifestyle mostly found near slow-moving water or on the edges of swamps

How fast can a Philippine frog move?

The fanged frog and related group of amphibian species are extremely quick and move around at speeds of up to 34 mph (54.7 kph). They make humans seem like they are running pretty slow since they can travel three times faster than us when we walk or jog!

How much does a Philippine frog weigh?

The giant fanged frog is a 5 lb (2.2 kg) amphibian species that live in the rainforest.

What are the male and female names of the species?

As this species of frogs does not have any sex-specific terms the females and males population go by the name giant Philippine frog species!

What would you call a baby Philippine frog?

A baby Philippine frog (Limnonectes magnus) species is called a tadpole.

What do they eat?

This relatively rare and secretive species of the family Dicrogossidae feeds exclusively on insects such as moths, dragonflies, bugs, and even turtle babies that fall into its habitat.

Are they poisonous?

The giant swamp frog (Limnonectes magnus) species is not poisonous, but it can make you sick. The large body of the giant Philippine frog has been known to cause severe gastrointestinal problems if consumed by humans or other animals.

Would they make a good pet?

The giant swamp frog is actually considered a pet because it does well in captivity. They are not very active and only eat crickets but they can also get around five years of age which makes them an ideal pet for people who have the time to care for them properly.

Did you know...

You might be wondering if there is a bullfrog in the Philippines. The answer is yes, and it is one of many non-native species living on this island nation!

Types of frogs in the Philippines

Palawan eastern frog - Alcalus mariae

Woodworth's frog - Limnonectes woodworthi

Basilan Island caecilian - Ichthyophis glandulosus

Smooth-skinned forest frog - Platymantis levigata

Leyte slender stream frog - Hylarana albotuberculata

Rabor's forest frog - Platymantis rabori

Tagibo Wwart frog - Limnonectes diuatus

When was the first frog discovered?

A frog was first discovered in the 18th century by scientists. The earliest known amphibian species of frogs appeared around 48 million years ago, but they were not yet fully amphibious. In 1735 Pierre Latreille, one of the best scientists of the time, observed that some tree frogs could live on land for extended periods of time.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these horned frog facts and bullfrog facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable tree frog coloring pages.

Images by Thomas Brown.

Philippine Frog Facts

What Did They Prey On?

Moths, dragonflies, insects, bugs, turtle babies

What Type of Animal were they?

Carnivore

Average Litter Size?

10,000

How Much Did They Weigh?

5 lb (2.2 kg)

What habitat Do they Live In?

islands, swamp regions

Where Do They Live?

mindanao, philippines, palawan

How Long Were They?

8 in (20.3 cm)

How Tall Were They?

N/A

Class

Amphibia

Genus

Limnonectes

Family

Dicrogossidae

Scientific Name

Limnonectes magnus

What Do They Look Like?

Gray, black, brown

Skin Type

Slimy thick

What Are Their Main Threats?

snakes, birds, lizards

What is their Conservation Status?

Near Threatened
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Written by Iram Ashfaq

Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health

Iram Ashfaq picture

Iram AshfaqBachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health

With a Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery from Shaney Institute of Health Sciences and a Master's degree in Public Health from Imperial College London, Iram is a highly qualified and accomplished writer from Srinagar, India. Over the course of a year, she has acquired multiple writing certifications, focusing on health sciences and research studies. Prior to joining Kidadl, Iram gained valuable experience working as a content writer for Indian firms and interning at a New York-based company. Her expertise and passion for writing shine through in her ability to create compelling content across a variety of topics.

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Fact-checked by Sakshi Raturi

Postgraduate Diploma in Management

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Sakshi RaturiPostgraduate Diploma in Management

Sakshi has experience in marketing strategy, social media planning, and recruiting industry experts for capstone projects, she has displayed a commitment to enhancing their skills and knowledge. She has won multiple awards, including a Certificate of Appreciation for Creative Writing and a Certificate of Merit for Immaculate Turut, and is always seeking new opportunities to grow and develop.

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