African Clawed Frog

Xenopus laevis

A flat, fully aquatic African frog with clawed toes, used widely in research and now invasive on four continents.

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About the African Clawed Frog

African clawed frogs have flat bodies with eyes and nostrils on top of the head. Females are about 4 to 4.5 inches long and much bigger than males. They live in eastern and southern Africa, but after escaping from labs they now live wild on four continents. Tadpoles filter food from the water, and adults scavenge insects, crustaceans, small fish, worms and snails.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Xenopus laevis^[1]
Size: Females 4 to 4.5 inches; males 2 to 2.5 inches.^[1]
Weight: Females about 7 ounces; males about 2 ounces.^[1]
Lifespan: Up to 15 years.^[1]
Diet: Scavenger. Water insects, larvae, crustaceans, small fish, tadpoles, worms and snails.^[1]
Habitat: Still, stagnant fresh water.^[1]
Where it lives: Eastern and southern Africa; invasive on four other continents.^[1]
Babies: 500 to 2,000 eggs.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2024).^[2]

Fun facts

It was the first vertebrate ever cloned in a lab.^[1]
It can stay dormant in mud for up to a year.^[1]
Males call with clicks even though they have no vocal cords.^[1]

Vocabulary

amphibian: A cold-blooded animal, such as a frog or salamander, that usually starts life in water and has moist skin.
invasive species: A plant or animal living where it doesn't belong that causes harm.
scavenger: An animal that eats dead plants or animals it finds.
tadpole: A young frog that lives in water and breathes with gills.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · AmazoniaSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “African clawed frog.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/african-clawed-frog (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Xenopus laevis (African Clawed Frog).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/110466172/248905894 (accessed 2026-10-08)