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Rana catesbeiana
They grow on average to be about 3.6 to 6 in (9.1 to 15 cm) in body length (although there are records of some up to 8.0 in (20 cm)), legs add another 7 to 10 in (18 to 25 cm) to length. The adult bullfrog skeleton is representative of tetrapod vertebrates, comprising an axial skeleton (skull and vertebrae) and an appendicular skeleton (pectoral girdle and forelimbs, pelvic girdle and hindlimbs). Ranids, however, lack ribs. The pronounced pair of dorsal humps in the back of ranid frogs are the ends of the pelvic ilia, homologues of the human hips.
For those shaking their head at my choice of taxonomic names, just know that I despise seeing scientific names changed every other week by egotistical taxonomists. Also, I have a hard time letting go of genera such as Rana and Bufo. :-)
Spotted on Apr 23, 2012
Submitted on Apr 24, 2012
1 Comment
I didn't realize your bullfrog were quite so beautiful.
As for changing names,personally I don't mind the taxonomists messing around with scientific names, they have a code of practice to follow even if its inconvenient for everyone else. What I strongly object to though is being told to change the common names of things; this has happened, recently, with many bird names in southern Africa. I am of the opinion that 'common' names is wot common people calls things and that common names should be collected and not prescribed.