# How Long Do American Bullfrogs Live?

> American Bullfrog lifespan is typically 7–9 years in the wild. What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Least Concern).

- **Species:** American Bullfrog (*Lithobates catesbeianus*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore (insects, fish, small vertebrates)
- **Habitat:** Ponds, lakes, marshes, slow streams
- **Lifespan:** 7–9 years in the wild
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bullfrog/how-long-do-bullfrog-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bullfrog/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is North America's largest frog, reaching 9 to 20 cm in body length and weighing up to about 0.5 kg. It lives in and around ponds, lakes, marshes and slow streams, where the male's deep, resonant call carries far across the water. A voracious carnivore, it will eat almost anything it can swallow, from insects to fish and small vertebrates. In the wild bullfrogs live around seven to nine years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a prognosis for one named animal. This page is a species lifespan range.

## Size and appearance

The American bullfrog is a heavyweight among frogs, with a body 9 to 20 cm (3.5 to 8 inches) long and a weight of up to about 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). Its skin is olive-green to brownish, often mottled, with a pale, sometimes yellow throat in breeding males. A prominent fold of skin curves around each large, exposed eardrum, or tympanum, which in males is noticeably bigger than the eye. Powerful, fully webbed hind feet make it a strong swimmer and an impressive jumper.

## Help protect the American Bullfrog

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/bullfrog/how-long-do-bullfrog-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.