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African Clawed Frog

Xenopus laevis

Amphibian · family Pipidae · order Anura

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

African Clawed Frog
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Ltshears assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Longest recorded life
30.3 years[3]

The African clawed frog is an amphibian in the family Pipidae that is not native to the United States[4][5]. NatureServe records it as introduced in Arizona and California[5].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the African clawed frog a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. In Arizona and California its state rank is SNA[7]. NatureServe lists it there as introduced, not native[5]. NatureServe notes it may have declined recently in southern California[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
USGS nonindigenous aquatic species[9] Listed as exotic in parts of the US

Where African Clawed Frog lives

NatureServe lists this frog as introduced, not native, in Arizona and California[5]. USGS also lists it as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States[9]. The states with the most GBIF observation records are California, Arizona, Washington, Arkansas and New Mexico[10]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many frogs live there[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: introduced, state rank SNACAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (2 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records habitat types such as herbaceous wetland, creek, pool and shallow water[11]. In the US it lives in slow streams, ponds, lakes and irrigation canals[12]. Eggs are attached to water plants, logs or rocks under the surface[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults are carnivores that eat invertebrates, amphibians and fish[13][14]. The larvae filter tiny food particles from the water[14]. A typical length recorded by NatureServe is 13 cm (5 in)[15]. The longest recorded lifespan in captivity is a little over 30 years[3]. Females reach sexual maturity at about 183 days[16]. A female lays several hundred eggs, either singly or in small clusters[17].

Trait Value
Typical length[15] 13 cm (5 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 30.3 years (captivity)
Gestation or incubation[18] 2 days
Female maturity[16] 183 days (about 0.5 years)
Food habits[13] Carnivore, Invertivore
Migration[19] non-migrant

When to look for it

Adults are nocturnal, which means active at night[20]. They rest on the bottom or hide under rocks during the day[21]. NatureServe lists the frog as a non-migrant[19]. In southern California breeding can happen through most of the year, except the coolest times[17]. GBIF records are highest in May, July and August, which reflects when people look and report[22].

January: 48 recordsJanFebruary: 101 recordsFebMarch: 123 recordsMarApril: 145 recordsAprMay: 569 recordsMayJune: 143 recordsJunJuly: 524 recordsJulAugust: 552 recordsAugSeptember: 232 recordsSepOctober: 92 recordsOctNovember: 60 recordsNovDecember: 72 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[22].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January48
February101
March123
April145
May569
June143
July524
August552
September232
October92
November60
December72

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Arizona, Washington, Arkansas, New Mexico[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the African clawed frog endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. Its global rank is G5, Secure[2].
Where does the African clawed frog live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced in Arizona and California[5]. GBIF also has many records in Washington, Arkansas and New Mexico[10].
What does the African clawed frog eat?
Adults eat invertebrates, amphibians and fish[14]. NatureServe records them as carnivores[13].
How big is the African clawed frog?
A typical length recorded by NatureServe is 13 cm (5 in)[15].
How long does the African clawed frog live?
The longest recorded lifespan in captivity is a little over 30 years[3]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[3].

Facts and sources

  1. African Clawed Frog is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for African Clawed Frog: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 30.3 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis) is a amphibian in the family Pipidae, order Anura. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists African Clawed Frog as introduced (not native) in: Arizona, California. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for African Clawed Frog (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for African Clawed Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  9. USGS lists African Clawed Frog as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States (exotic). USGS NAS
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of African Clawed Frog: California, Arizona, Washington, Arkansas, New Mexico. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for African Clawed Frog: Herbaceous wetland, Creek, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for African Clawed Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for African Clawed Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 13 cm (5 in). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 183 days (about 0.5 years). AnAge
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for African Clawed Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 2 days. AnAge
  19. NatureServe migration category for African Clawed Frog: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  20. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe notes on phenology for African Clawed Frog. NatureServe Explorer
  22. GBIF observation records of African Clawed Frog in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Ltshears assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.