The Counterattack of American Bullfrogs

The Bullfrog (scientific name: Rana catesbeiana), native to North America, is the largest among the edible frogs. Ferocious by nature, the Bullfrog is highly adaptable to its environment and has a high reproductive capacity as well as a large appetite. It can weigh more than 1 kg and grow to over 15 cm long. Its habitat is similar to that of other species of frogs, and it is highly territorial. Adult bullfrogs or bullfrog tadpoles eat other species of frogs, constituting a threat to species native to Taiwan.

Bullfrogs were initially introduced into Taiwan for food where they have been successfully bred. As of today, 70% of bred American bullfrogs are exported. However, some bullfrogs escape from farms into the wilderness and, with their natural advantages, become a menace to the local frogs. To make matters worse, the so-called “Animal Release Movement” promoted by religious groups has resulted in large numbers of raised bullfrogs “returning to nature,” and ultimately harming Taiwan’s ecology. Though benevolent sounding, “Animal Release” has turned out to be a death sentence for local organisms. More archives related to alien species in Taiwan can be seen on the portal website of e-Learning and Digital Archives.

Collection of Related Items

Scientific name: Rana catesbeiana Shaw
English name: Bullfrog
Identifier:
Data code: A0031a01
Data type: Specimen category: general
Description:
Specific species: N/A
Conservation grade: Nil
Contributor: Collector: C.N. Hi
Date:Collection date: 26/09/1981
Source:National Taiwan University
Coverage:Collection location: Taipei Market (breeding)
Management rights:National Taiwan University

 

Scientific name: Rana catesbeiana Shaw
English name: Bullfrog
Identifier:
Data code: A0031a02
Data type: Specimen category: general
Description:
Specific species: N/A
Conservation Grade: Nil
Contributor: Collector: Yang, Yi-Ru
Date: Collection date: 10/1992
Source: National Taiwan University
Coverage: Collection location: Yangming Mountain
Management rights:National Taiwan University

 

Scientific name: Rana catesbeiana
Identifier:
Number (catalogue number-accession number): 00002838
Data type: Specimens of amphibian vertebrate animal
Subject and keywords:
Latin kingdom: Animalia
Chinese kingdom: Kingdom Animalia (動物界脊索動物門)
Latin phylum: Chordat
Chinese phylum: Phylum Chordata (脊索動物門)
Latin subphylum: Vertabrata
Latin class: Amphibia
Chinese class: Amphibia (兩生綱)
Latin subclass: Lissamphibia
Chinese subclass: Smooth Amphibian (平滑兩生亞綱)
Latin family: Ranidae
Latin genus: Rana
Latin species epithet: catesbeiana
Description:
Specimen category: wet
Publisher: National Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/)
Date: Collection period: 1974/03/12-
Format:
Body length: 0
Wrist circumference: 0
Tibia length:
0
Head length: 0
Head width: 0
Snout length: 0
Source: The Digital Museum of Nature & Culture
Language: Chinese
Coverage: Collection locations: 3.5 miles east of Austin, USA
Management rights:
National Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/)

 

Scientific name: Rana catesbeiana
Identifier:
Number (catalogue number-accession number): 00002961
Data type: Specimens of amphibian vertebrate animal
Subject and keywords:
Latin kingdom: Animalia
Chinese kingdom: Animalia (動物界)
Latin phylum: Chordat
Chinese phylum: Phylum Chordata (脊索動物門)
Latin subphylum: Vertabrata
Latin class: Amphibia
Chinese class: Amphibia (兩生綱)
Latin subclass: Lissamphibia
Chinese subclass: Smooth Amphibian (平滑兩生亞綱) 
Latin family: Ranidae
Latin genus: Rana
Latin species epithet: catesbeiana
Description:
Specimen category: wet
Publisher: National Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/)
Date: Collection period: 1970/03/14-
Format:
Body length: 0
Wrist circumference: 0
Tibia length: 0
Head length: 0
Head width: 0
Snout length: 0
Source: The Digital Museum of Nature & Culture
Language: Chinese
Coverage: Collection locations: 4 miles north of Oak Flat Ranger Station, USA
Management rights:
National Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/)

 

Scientific name: Rana catesbeiana
Identifier:
Number (catalogue number-accession number): 00003526
Data type: Specimens of amphibian vertebrate animal
Subject and keywords:
Latin kingdom: Animalia
Chinese kingdom: Animalia (動物界)
Latin phylum: Chordat
Chinese phylum: Chordata (脊索動物門)
Latin subphylum: Vertabrata
Latin class: Amphibia
Chinese class: Amphibian (兩生綱) 
Latin subclass: Lissamphibia
Chinese subclass: Smooth Amphibian (平滑兩生亞綱)
Latin family: Ranidae
Latin genus: Rana
Latin species epithet: catesbeiana
Description:
Specimen category: wet
Publisher: National Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/)
Date: Collection period: 2000/05/30-
Format:
Body length: 0
Wrist circumference: 0
Tibia length: 0
Head length: 0
Head width: 0
Snout length: 0
Source: The Digital Museum of Nature & Culture
Language: Chinese
Coverage:
Collection location (Chinese name): 琉球群島沖繩縣水庫Reservoir in Okinawa Prefecture, Ryukyu Islands
Collection location (English name): Mt. Daruma, Japan
Management rights:
National Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/)

 

Scientific Name: Rana catesbeiana
Identifier:
Number (catalogue number-accession number): 00004351
Data type: Specimens of amphibian vertebrate animal
Subject and keywords:
Latin kingdom: Animalia
Chinese kingdom: Animal (動物界)
Latin phylum: Chordat
Chinese phylum: Phylum Chordata (脊索動物門)
Latin subphylum: Vertabrata
Latin class: Amphibia
Chinese class: Amphibian (兩生綱)
Latin subclass: Lissamphibia
Chinese subclass: Smooth Amphibian (平滑兩生亞綱)
Latin family: Ranidae
Latin genus: Rana
Latin species epithet: catesbeiana
Description:
Specimen category: wet
Publisher: National Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/)
Date: Collection period: 2006/10/02-
Format:
Body length: 0
Wrist circumference: 0
Tibia length: 0
Head length: 0
Head width: 0
Snout length: 0
Source: The Digital Museum of Nature & Culture
Language: Chinese
Coverage:
Collection location (Chinese name): 台灣台中市科學博物館前水池
Collection location (English name): The pond in front of the National Museum of Natural Science, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Longitude: East longitude 120°35
Latitude: North latitude 23°15
Management rights:
National Museum of Natural Science (http://www.nmns.edu.tw/)

 

Title: Breeding Bullfrogs in Yunlin County
Identifier:
Physical object: PTV073
Physical object title: Volume 072 /Series 127-2, 100-4, 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 108-2, 108-3 for local news, Taiwan Film news archives
Data type: Original/surrogate: surrogate
Repository level: collection
Subject:
Primary subject: economic development
Secondary subject: agriculture, forestry, fishing, animal husbandry, and salt
Description:
Abstract: In 1971, the Lin brothers in Yunlin County managed a bullfrog farm in cooperation with the Xiluo Farmers’ Association. It was a success. Bamboos, rattans, and plastic netting are required to provide shade for the bullfrogs.
Caption: N/A
Dub: Chinese 
Manuscript: N/A
Publisher: Taiwan Film & Culture Co., Ltd.
Date:
Date of event: 1971
Issued/date of release: 1971/06
Format:
Physical object format: Betacam-SP
Physical object aspect ratio: 1:1.33
Physical object quantity/dimension/total length: 01:03:31
Physical object color: black & white
Physical object sound: magnetic
Physical object soundtrack: sound mixing
Relation:
Series title: Taiwan Film Studio—General News
Coverage:
Region: Asia
Country: Taiwan
City: Yunlin County
Town: Xiluo 
Management rights: 
Owner country: ROC
Owner: Chinese Taipei Film Archive

 

Title: New Budding Business in the Countryside—Bullfrog Breeding
Identifier:
Physical object identifier: PTV087
Physical object title: Volume 087 /Series 155-2、158-2、159-2、174-2、174-3、174-1、174-4、177-1 for local news, Taiwan Film news archives
Data type: Original/surrogate: surrogate
Repository level: collection
Subject:
Primary subject: economic development
Secondary subject: Agriculture, forestry, fishing, animal husbandry, and salt
Description:
Abstract: An interview with the owner (Mr. Zheng) of a successful American Bullfrogs farm in Miaoli County. A number of frog skin shoes are displayed on the shelf. This new business has gained its popularity in the countryside as a family sideline business. As the climate in Taiwan is ideal for breeding American Bullfrogs, the bullfrogs grow rapidly, which lowers the breeding costs.
Caption: N/A
Dub: Chinese
Publisher: Taiwan Film & Culture Co., Ltd.
Date: Date of event: 1973
Issued/date of release: 1973/06
Format:
Physical object format: Betacam-SP
Physical object aspect ratio: 1:1.33
Physical object quantity/dimension/total length (feet): 01:01:52
Physical object color: Black & white
Physical object emitting sound: magnetic
Physical object soundtrack: sound mixing
Relation:
Series title: Taiwan film studio—General News
Coverage:
Region: Asia
Country: Taiwan
City: Miaoli County
Town: Xiluo
Management rights: 
Owner country: ROC
Owner: Chinese Taipei Film Archive