Do Lizards Eat Frogs?

Can Lizards eat frogs? They can eat frogs, but their appetite is so diverse that they can survive eating plants and insects. Throughout this guide, we’ll explain:

Do Lizards Eat Frogs?
What Type Of Frogs Do Lizards Eat?
What Type of Lizards Eat Frogs Most?
Do Lizards And Frogs Get Along?
F.A.Q.

Yes. Lizards feed on various food sources, including frogs, worms, small insects, and fruit. Some lizard species are predatory in nature, eating mammals, birds, snails, and other reptiles.

Herbivore lizards tend to eat algae, fruits, and a wide assortment of plant materials. Unlike carnivores, these lizards are unable to eat frogs.

Even though lizards and frogs are both reptiles, they hate living near each other. Reptiles are solitary and territorial creatures, meaning that they prefer to live their life on their own.

When in contact with a frog, the lizard will attack the frog with its claws. Since lizards have thicker skin, they are more likely to defend themselves from the frog’s tongue. After killing the frog, the lizard will swallow it.

Do Lizards Eat Baby Frogs?

Adult lizards will eat baby frogs because they are easier prey. Unlike adult frogs, baby frogs are unable to flee from lizards. Thus, you have to ensure that your baby frogs are protected by giving them a separate tank to grow in.

What Type Of Frogs Do Lizards Eat?

Since lizards are usually taller, they tend to eat any frog that’s within their range. Here are the most common frogs:

Tree Frogs

As its name suggests, tree frogs are frogs that spend the majority of their lives on trees. They rarely walk on the ground, unless it’s for mating or to release eggs.

The average adult tree frog is about 1 to 1 ½ inches long. They are usually small because their lightweight helps them with swinging through trees. While some tree frogs can get up to 4 inches, they have a slimmer build in comparison to terrestrial frogs.

Tree frogs have discs located on their fingers and toe-tips. Due to their small size, it enhances their grasping ability and aids them in latching onto trees. Still, they are unable to defend themselves against lizards, making them a common prey.

Wood Frog

Wood Frogs mainly reside in North America and can be seen in the northern and southern Appalachian forests. These frogs are taller than tree frogs, with adults ranging from 2 to 2.8 inches.

Like most frogs, wood frogs like to live in freshwater wetlands and pools. Adult wood frogs spend their summer months in bogs, forested swamps, and moist woodlands.

Lizards eat wood frogs because of their increased height and biting power. For instance, a medium-sized lizard has the biting power to kill an adult wood frog. Once they have a frog within their jaws, the frog is unable to escape.

Goliath Frog

Goliath frogs are the largest frog species in the animal kingdom. They can grow up to 13 inches and weigh 7.2 lbs. You can find goliath frogs in countries such as Guinea and Cameroon.

Although they live on the rivers during the day, Goliath frogs will walk on land during the night. Large lizards such as alligators, crocodiles, and snakes eat goliath frogs.

While the goliath frog is large, they are defenseless against the lizard’s attacks. Frogs are more suited to eat insects than to fend themselves off from lizards. Because of this, larger lizards will eat a goliath frog with ease.

Poison Dart Frog

Poison dart frogs can grow up to 2.4 inches in length. You can find these frogs in rainforests, including countries such as Peru, Brazil, Nicaragua, and Ecuador.

Despite their name, not all Poison Dart Frogs are poisonous, but they are highly toxic. The lizards that eat poison dart frogs are adapted to withstand the toxins from their bodies. For instance, snakes such as the Fire-Bellied Snake are able to withstand the frog’s toxins and continue to eat it.

Fortunately, you don’t have to feed your house lizard poison dart frogs to survive. Instead, you should feed them a mixture of insects and vegetables. Doing so will help the lizard grow into an adult without having to suffer from frog toxins that could potentially harm it.

What Type of Lizards Eat Frogs Most?

Usually, lizards that are omnivores or carnivores tend to eat frogs. Here are the lizards that eat frogs regularly:

Komodo Dragon

Komodo dragons eat frogs by biting them across the neck. They continue to hold onto the bite until the frog dies. Since komodo dragons are the largest lizard, they are apex predators that hunt after birds, mammals, and invertebrates.

In addition, komodo dragons have a venomous bite. The venom is located on their jaws, which excludes the toxin from the glands. This makes them more powerful than the frog because they can kill them in one bite.

When eating, komodo dragons dispose of their prey by eating chunks of their flesh. After eating the frog, the komodo dragon will sit in front of sunlight to aid in its digestive process. Due to their slow metabolism, the average Komodo dragon can eat up to 12 meals a year.

Monitor Lizards

Monitor lizards are a common predator for frogs. They can grow up 7.9 inches to up to 3.1 feet! The majority of monitor lizards are terrestrial, but they are known to be semi aquatic and arboreal species in the wild.

Nile Monitor Lizards are known for their odd breeding tactics. They create a termite mound with their sharp claws to aid in laying eggs. The termites close the hole and provide a safe temperature for the egg to incubate and hatch. Once hatched, the baby lizards will feed on the termites before leaving the ground.

When hunting after frogs, monitor lizards use their forked tongues to detect their scent. They have strong jaws, and will not let go of the frog, and will secrete their poisonous toxins into the frog’s internal systems.

Here is the video of montior lizard eating a live frog. (Viewer discretion advised)

Alligators

Alligators eat their prey based on their availability and size. Their prey includes:

Frogs
Snakes
Mammals
Turtles
Birds

Hatchling alligators will primarily feed on prey such as worms, snails, minnows, and crabs. When they become older, adolescent alligators can eat mammals such as squirrels or raccoons. Adult alligators can practically eat any animal that is nearby.

The alligator’s large snapping jaws give it a clear advantage when engaging with a frog in the wild. In addition, alligators have enough power to smash through a small mammal’s bone and crush open a turtle’s shell. Statistically speaking, the bite force of a 450-pound alligator is around 2,209 pounds!

Do Lizards And Frogs Get Along?

Most reptiles don’t like living with other species. Since lizards are territorial, they will feel threatened by frogs in their presence.

If you have both frogs and lizards as pets, it’s best to keep them in separate tanks. This reduces the chance of your lizard accidentally eating your beloved pet frog!

Conclusion

To conclude, lizards can eat frogs, but too many frogs can be bad for their long-term health. However, you’ll want to feed your house lizards a balanced diet consisting of fruits, plants, and insects. That way, they can grow properly and be healthy.