Do frogs eat snakes? This is a common question that many people ask. While different frog species have slightly different diets, in general, frogs are aggressive predators that will eat almost any prey they can catch, overpower, and fit into their mouths. The size of the frog and the environment it lives in determine what it eats. Larger frogs, such as bullfrogs, eat small or juvenile snakes, while smaller frogs do not typically eat snakes because they are too large to fit into their mouths. Frogs that eat snakes prefer to eat non-venomous snakes, but occasionally eat venomous ones.
As generalist carnivores, frogs are not picky with what they eat. They will eat almost any prey they can catch, including small amphibians, reptiles, and even tadpoles. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the diet of a frog is mainly determined by its habitat and biome. In the following sections, we will explore the predator-prey relationship between frogs and snakes in more detail.
Large, and Some Medium-Sized Frogs Eat Small Snakes
Frogs are generally known to eat insects, spiders, worms, and other small prey. However, there are certain species of frogs that can eat small snakes. In this section, we will discuss the frog species that are known to eat snakes.
Bullfrogs Eat Snakes
Bullfrogs are one of the largest frog species and are known to eat a variety of prey, including snakes. They are generalist carnivores and will eat almost any prey they can catch and fit into their mouths. Bullfrogs have been observed eating small or juvenile snakes, such as the juvenile garter snake, which is common in the range of the American bullfrog. African and Asian bullfrogs will also eat small snakes available in their respective environments.
However, bullfrogs may try to eat prey that is too large for them, including snakes. While they prefer to eat non-venomous snakes, they may also attempt to eat venomous snakes. Bullfrogs have been observed biting and trying to eat snakes that are too large for them.
Australian Green Tree Frogs Eat Snakes
Australian green tree frogs, also known as White’s tree frogs, are small frogs that are known to eat snakes. They mainly eat very young snakes that they can easily swallow, such as the common keelback, a small non-venomous snake found in Australia. However, they have also been documented eating venomous red-bellied black snakes and even Coastal Taipan Snakes, which are the third-most venomous terrestrial snakes in the world.
Female Australian green frogs are larger than males, so they can eat larger snakes than the latter.
Pacman Frogs Eat Snakes
Pacman frogs, also known as Argentine horned frogs, are medium-sized frogs that grow up to six inches in length. They have very large mouths, enabling them to eat large prey such as snakes. Pacman frogs typically eat juvenile non-venomous snakes.
Cane Toads Eat Snakes
Cane toads, also known as marine toads, are the largest toads in the world. They can grow up to over nine inches in length and weigh over one pound. This large size allows cane toads to eat large prey such as bats, rodents, birds, and small reptiles. If a small enough snake passes in front of a hungry cane toad, the toad will eat it.
Other Frogs That Eat Snakes
Leopard frogs, Pickerel frogs, Goliath frogs, and Robust spadefoot toads are other frog species that are known to eat snakes. These frogs are not selective eaters and will eat almost any prey they can catch and swallow. As a general rule, most large terrestrial frog species will eat a snake when given the chance.
In conclusion, while most frog species do not eat snakes, there are certain large and some medium-sized frog species that can eat small snakes. These frogs are generalist carnivores and will eat almost any prey they can catch and fit into their mouths. While they prefer to eat non-venomous snakes, they may also attempt to eat venomous snakes.
Do Frogs Get Bitten When They Eat Snakes?
Yes, frogs often get bitten multiple times when they eat snakes. The snake can bite even when most of its body has already been swallowed by the frog, as long as its head is still sticking out of the frog’s mouth. Sometimes, a snake can even bite a frog’s tongue, mouth, and throat as it is being swallowed. However, frogs have a special adaptation that allows them to swallow prey whole without choking. Their eyes retract into their head and push the food down their throat. Despite the risks, some frog species have evolved to eat snakes as a part of their diet.
Some Frogs May Be Immune to Snake Venom
While it is generally known that frogs usually eat non-venomous snakes, there are some species of frogs that can eat highly venomous snakes, such as the Australian green tree frog. In fact, there have been reports of such frogs surviving bites from venomous snakes, suggesting that some frogs may be immune to snake venom.
One example of this is the American bullfrog, which has been found to be at least partially resistant to the venom of snakes such as the copperhead and cottonmouth. However, there have not been scientific studies into the venom resistance of many species of frogs.
Interestingly, the Australian green tree frog was reported to have eaten a Coastal Taipan snake, which is the third most venomous terrestrial snake in the world, and survived despite being bitten multiple times. While this incident was not scientifically studied, it at least suggests that some frogs may have immunity to snake venom.
It is important to note that not all frogs have immunity to snake venom, and it is still generally advised to avoid handling venomous snakes. Additionally, some frogs have their own defense mechanisms, such as poisonous skin secretions from their parotid gland, which can be harmful to predators.
Overall, while more research is needed to fully understand the extent of frog immunity to snake venom, it is clear that some species of frogs may possess this unique ability.
Large Snakes Eat Smaller Frogs
While it is true that some large frogs can eat snakes, in most cases, it is the other way around. In fact, snakes are known to be one of the primary predators of frogs. Worldwide, many snake species feed on small amphibians like frogs and rodents.
For instance, the Eastern Hognose snake, found in North America, primarily feeds on toads. These snakes are so specialized in eating toads that they have large teeth in the back of their mouths to puncture inflated toads, making it easier to swallow.
Similarly, Garter snakes are also heavily reliant on frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts as food. Asian Keelback snakes are also known to frequently eat frogs and their tadpoles.
Some snakes even specialize in eating frog egg masses laid on leaves overhanging streams. However, in some cases, frogs have developed toxins to stop snakes and other predators from eating them. Many newts, frogs, and toads can produce poisonous skin secretions that taste bad or are lethal to many predators.
Despite this, some snake species have developed immunity to these toxins. Northern water snakes and Garter snakes are known to frequently eat poisonous frogs like Pickerel frogs, which produce poisonous skin secretions.
On the other hand, some snake species like the knife-toothed kukri snakes have learned to avoid frog and toad poison altogether. These snakes have learned to eat the frog or toad’s insides, completely avoiding the poisonous sections on the skin.
In summary, while large frogs can eat snakes, in most cases, snakes are the ones that prey on frogs. Many snake species primarily feed on small amphibians like frogs and rodents. Some frogs have developed toxins to stop snakes and other predators from eating them, but some snake species have developed immunity to these toxins.
Can Frogs Kill Snakes?
While most frogs are not large enough to kill snakes directly, some frogs rely on their toxins to do the job. For example, the golden poison dart frog and blue poison dart frog have extremely potent toxins that can kill any snake that eats them. Toads, on the other hand, have large parotid glands behind the eyes and warty glands on the skin that produce a milky poisonous fluid. However, some snakes have developed immunity to the poison produced by toads, but large toads can produce enough poison to kill most snakes.
In Australia, keelback snakes mainly prey on frogs and toads such as the cane toad. Due to this, keelback snakes have a genetic tolerance to the poison that toads produce. However, this only works on small toads. Toads store most of their poison in their parotid glands, so a small toad will only have small amounts of poison.
When a snake ingests poison from a toad that is too big, it will let go of the toad before swallowing it. If the snake swallows the toad, it may gag and regurgitate the amphibian, or sometimes even die due to the toad’s poison.
In general, larger frogs can kill snakes by catching them off guard and swallowing them alive and whole. The snake gets wrapped up in the frog’s tacky tongue, and eventually, the snake can’t move and chokes in the frog’s stomach acids and dies. However, smaller frogs cannot kill snakes directly, and they prefer to eat smaller prey.
In summary, while most frogs cannot kill snakes directly, they can rely on their toxins to do the job. Toads, on the other hand, have large parotid glands that produce a milky poisonous fluid that can kill most snakes. Larger frogs can catch snakes off guard and swallow them alive and whole, leading to the snake’s eventual death.
Can Captive Frogs Be Fed Snakes?
If you are a hobbyist thinking about feeding snakes to your captive frogs, there are a few things to consider before doing so. First, most frogs are not large enough to eat snakes. Secondly, feeding snakes to frogs can lead to serious injuries as snakes can bite and harm the frog during feeding.
In addition, it is not practical to feed snakes to captive frogs as it is cheaper and easier to feed them insects and worms. Since frogs generally eat live prey, keeping the “feeder snakes” alive for long periods before feeding them to the frog is not practical.
Furthermore, captive frogs may experience digestive problems or impaction if they consume snakes that are too large for them to handle. Therefore, it is not recommended to feed snakes to captive frogs unless they are large species such as bullfrogs or Pacman frogs.
In summary, it is not advisable to feed snakes to captive frogs due to the potential risks and impracticality of doing so. There are cheaper and easier alternative prey items that can be fed to captive frogs without risking their health.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the predators of snakes?
Snakes have a variety of predators, including birds of prey, mammals such as foxes and coyotes, and even other snakes. Some snakes are also preyed upon by aquatic animals, such as fish and turtles.
What do frogs eat?
Frogs are carnivores and will eat a variety of insects, spiders, worms, and other small animals. They are also known to eat other frogs, as well as small snakes and lizards.
What types of frogs eat snakes?
Some larger species of frogs, such as bullfrogs and green frogs, have been known to eat small or juvenile snakes. However, they typically prefer non-venomous snakes over venomous ones.
Do bullfrogs eat snakes?
Yes, bullfrogs have been known to eat small or juvenile snakes, but they usually prefer non-venomous snakes over venomous ones.
Why don’t snakes eat frogs?
Snakes do eat frogs, but they may not be their preferred prey. Some species of snakes, such as garter snakes, will eat primarily frogs, while others may eat a wider variety of prey.
Do toads eat snakes?
Toads are not typically known to eat snakes, as they primarily feed on insects and other small invertebrates. However, some larger species of toads may eat small snakes if they are available.
Final Thoughts
Frogs are opportunistic hunters and will eat almost anything that fits into their mouths, including snakes. However, larger frog species are the ones that can eat snakes, but they do not actively seek out snakes as prey. Instead, they only eat them when they get the chance.
