If you’ve ever walked past a southern swamp and thought you heard a distant pig grunting, you might’ve just encountered the namesake of the pig frog. This large aquatic frog gets its name from its loud, pig-like call that’s hard to miss during breeding season. Native to the southeastern U.S., the pig frog is a true swamp dweller and one of the biggest native frogs in the country.
Size & Physical Appearance
Pig frogs are definitely on the larger end of the frog world. Adults usually measure between 4.5 to 6 inches long, though some can grow even larger. They’re heavily built, with long, powerful legs made for jumping and swimming.
Their coloration is typically olive green to brown, with dark spots or blotches on the back and legs. The skin is smooth, and their belly is a lighter cream color. Unlike some other frogs, pig frogs usually have a pretty blunt snout.
One way to tell males and females apart: males have larger tympanums (those are the round “ears” behind the eyes), often bigger than their eyes. Also, mature males develop darker throats during the breeding season.
Habitat and Range
Pig frogs are strictly aquatic, meaning you’ll almost always find them in or near water. They love warm, muddy, and permanent bodies of water like marshes, swamps, ponds, and roadside ditches, especially where there’s thick vegetation.
Range-wise, they’re right at home in the Southeastern United States — mostly in Florida, southern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. They’re most common in low-elevation areas, especially in and around the Floridian wetlands like the Everglades.
Diet
Pig frogs are carnivores with big appetites. They’ll eat just about anything they can fit in their wide mouths, including insects, crayfish, small snakes, fish, and even other frogs. Think of them as the vacuum cleaners of the swamp. Their strong jaws help them snag and hold slippery prey, and they often hunt at night.
Hatchlings and tadpoles, on the other hand, eat mostly algae and plant matter until they morph into froglets.
Lifespan
In the wild, pig frogs usually live around 5 to 10 years. Their lifespan in captivity isn’t well documented, mainly because they’re not common in the pet trade (more on that below).
Identification Tips
Pig frogs can be confused with both bullfrogs and green frogs, but there are a few key features to help you out:
- No dorsolateral ridges: Unlike green frogs, pig frogs lack prominent ridges running from behind the eyes down the back.
- Webbed toes: Their fully webbed hind feet are adapted for swimming, which sets them apart from similar species with only partially webbed toes.
- Snout shape: Compared to bullfrogs, their snout is more pointed, and their body appears narrower.
Also, location helps! If you’re in a deep southern swamp and hear a loud pig-like grunt at night, it’s probably one of these frogs calling from the muck.
Fun Fact
Despite rarely leaving the water, pig frogs can jump surprisingly large distances. Some can leap over five feet in a single bound — not bad for a frog that mostly lives in mud!
Additional Notes
Pig frogs aren’t commonly kept as pets. They need large, fully aquatic enclosures and have specific temperature and feeding needs. Many states also restrict the capture or trade of native amphibians, so if you’re considering keeping one, be sure to check local regulations first.
In the wild, they play an important role in keeping insect and small animal populations in check, and they’re also prey for birds, snakes, and alligators.
Whether you’re exploring a southern wetland or just curious about frogs, keep an ear out — if you hear a strange grunt in the night, there’s a good chance you’ve found yourself in pig frog territory.