What Do Frogs Eat? Wild Diets, Tadpoles and Prey
Adult frogs are carnivores. Live Science lists insects, spiders, worms, slugs, larvae and small fish as common prey, and large species such as the American bullfrog will eat mice, birds and snakes. Frogs sometimes eat other frogs. Tadpoles eat very different food: bullfrog tadpoles mainly graze on aquatic plants and algae, while some other tadpoles filter food from water.
Frogs are generalist hunters. Most eat whatever moves and fits in the mouth, which is why diets differ by species, size and season.
This guide covers what frogs eat in the wild, how they catch it, and how tadpole diets differ. It is information about wild and general diets, not a feeding plan for pet frogs.
How this was made: prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed at the end. Images are AI-generated illustrations, not photographs of real animals or products.
Key Takeaways
- Adult frogs are carnivores that eat live or moving prey.
- Common prey includes insects, spiders, worms, slugs, larvae and small fish.
- Large frogs such as the American bullfrog also eat mice, birds and snakes.
- Frogs sometimes eat other frogs, especially larger frogs and invasive frogs.
- Tadpole diets differ: algae, plants and filtered food, not insects.
- Diets change with species, size, habitat and time of year.
Pin this infographicShare on Facebook
Adult frogs are carnivores
Live Science reports that frogs eat insects, spiders, worms, slugs, larvae and small fish. John Measey, lead author of a study on frog diets, said frogs are generalists that “will eat anything that moves” if the timing and location are right.
Animal Diversity Web (ADW) agrees with this picture for several species. The table below compares what it lists.
| Frog | Main foods listed |
|---|---|
| American bullfrog | Snakes, worms, insects, crustaceans, frogs, tadpoles, fish, salamanders and occasionally bats |
| European common frog | Insects and their larvae, woodlice, spiders, snails and worms |
| Green tree frog | Mainly flies, mosquitoes and other small insects |
| African clawed frog | Living, dead or dying arthropods and other organic waste |
How frogs catch prey
National Geographic describes the American bullfrog as a nocturnal ambush predator. It sits quietly, waits for prey to pass, then lunges with its powerful hind legs and wide-open mouth.
Live Science says frogs use quick, sticky tongues. One study found frog tongues can catch insects in 0.07 second, about five times faster than a human blink. After catching prey, many frogs pull their eyeballs down, which pushes the food down the throat.
The green tree frog is a good example of how selective hunting can be. ADW says nearly 90% of its prey were actively pursued, and the rest were insects walking by or close enough to snatch. It appears to choose prey by activity level, not size.
Do frogs eat other frogs?
Yes, sometimes. Live Science reports on a PeerJ study by South African researchers who reviewed 355 studies of frog diets worldwide. About one-fifth mentioned frogs eating other frogs.
The study found frogs were about 40% more likely to eat other frogs in a non-native habitat than in their native one. Each extra millimeter of body size made a frog 2.8% more likely to eat other frogs. Frogs ate their own species about a third as often as they ate other frog species.
The study began with African clawed frogs, an invasive species in South Africa that were seen eating native frogs.
What do tadpoles eat?
Tadpoles do not eat like adults. ADW says bullfrog tadpoles mainly graze on aquatic plants and algae. African clawed frog tadpoles are filter feeders.
For how tadpoles breathe as they grow, see how do frogs breathe.
Why diets change
ADW says the European common frog changes its eating habits with the time of year, and that it can locate worms by smell.
Size matters too. Large frogs can swallow bigger prey, and Live Science says even cane toads eat small birds, mammals and snakes. Habitat matters: frogs in areas with many frog species were more likely to eat other frogs, according to the PeerJ study.
For more on frog bodies, see the physical characteristics of a frog. To learn how long frogs live, read our lifespan guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do frogs eat in the wild?
Insects, spiders, worms, slugs, larvae and small fish are common. Large frogs eat bigger prey.
Are frogs carnivores?
Yes. Adult frogs eat animals. Live Science calls them generalist carnivores.
What do tadpoles eat?
Bullfrog tadpoles mainly graze on plants and algae. African clawed frog tadpoles filter food from water.
Do frogs eat other frogs?
Yes. About one-fifth of 355 diet studies mentioned it.
How do frogs catch food?
They use a quick, sticky tongue or lunge with an open mouth, depending on the species.
Do frogs eat every day?
I did not find a sourced feeding rate for wild frogs.
Bottom Line
Frogs eat a wide range of animal prey, from flies to snakes, and the menu depends on species, size and season. Tadpoles eat plants, algae and filtered food instead.
If you keep a pet frog, ask an exotics vet for a diet suited to your species.
Sources
- Live Science: Frogs, the largest group of amphibians, accessed General diet, tongue speed
- Live Science: Frogs sometimes eat each other, accessed PeerJ diet review of 355 studies
- Live Science: Eye-swallowing and mouth birth, freaky facts about frogs, accessed Eyes and swallowing
- National Geographic: American bullfrog, accessed Bullfrog hunting behavior
- Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Lithobates catesbeianus, accessed Bullfrog diet
- Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Hyla cinerea, accessed Green tree frog diet
- Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Rana temporaria, accessed Common frog diet
- Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan): Xenopus laevis, accessed African clawed frog diet
One Comment