In this article, we’ll answer the question:
“Are frogs dangerous?”
First, you’ll find a short summary about the dangerousness of frogs in general, then get specific answers about these amphibians like are frogs aggressive, will they bite, do frogs eat humans, etc.
Frogs are carnivorous amphibians composing the order Anura. Frogs account for around 88% of extant amphibian species. And there is no formal distinction between frogs and toads in biological taxonomy.
Are Frogs Dangerous?
Frogs are dangerous to humans and can even be deadly to people if they are the poisonous kind, but some species of frogs bring no harm to humans or pets.
Some of the most poisonous frogs include the golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis), found in Colombia, and the black-legged dart frog (Ameerega Macero), found in Peru. These frogs secrete a poisonous substance from their skin that can kill humans and other animals. The poison is so potent that just touching these frogs can be fatal. The golden poison frog, for example, contains enough poison to kill 10 people.
Frogs that are not poisonous can still be harmful to pets if they eat them. Frogs have a lot of bones and cartilage in their bodies, which can cause digestive issues for animals. Some frogs secrete a sticky substance from their skin that can irritate a cat or dog’s mouth and gastrointestinal tract. If your pet eats a frog, it is best to take them to the vet to be safe.
Are Frogs Aggressive?
Frogs are aggressive depending on the density of the population. Studies report that adult male frogs from a high-density population were more aggressive than those from a low-density population.
According to this Science Direct research paper, the function of aggressiveness was somehow linked to the strange reproductive behavior seen in harlequin frog species. “There seemed to be male-male competition for mates, as the operational sex ratio strongly favoured males, oviposition was asynchronous, and amplexus lasted for at least several weeks. Female-female aggression may have been related to defence of foraging or shelter sites, but aggression towards males was likely to be an attempt to thwart unwanted amplexus.”
Several different frogs are known to be more aggressive than others. For example, the marine toad is widely considered one of the most dangerous species in its habitat and can poison another animal with its highly toxic venom. Meanwhile, bullfrogs are also quite aggressive and attack anything that comes too close to their territory. They will even attack humans when provoked.
Do Frogs Bite?
Frogs do bite as a form of self-defense. However, most frog bites do not harm people because a frog’s teeth are so small and the bite force is low.
According to this report by the University of Adelaide, “[A] study found that small horned frogs, with head width of about 4.5cm, can bite with a force of 30 newtons (N) or about 3 kg or 6.6 lbs.”
The majority of frog bites are harmless to humans, but some risk exists to viral or bacterial infections that frogs might spread. All frogs have teeth and they use them to eat prey they capture with their sticky tongues but these amphibians don’t always have the same number of teeth.
The Florida Museum reports that “‘Some frogs have tiny teeth on their upper jaws and the roof of their mouths while others sport fanglike structures. Some species are completely toothless. And only one frog, out of the more-than 7,000 species, has true teeth on both upper and lower jaws.”
Remember that not all frog bites are dangerous. The most severe risk of being bitten by a frog comes from bacteria or viruses carried in the animal’s saliva. These infections can cause severe illnesses in humans.
Do Frogs Attack Humans?
Frogs do not attack humans and will generally jump away when encountering people in nature. The only time a frog will attack a person is if it feels threatened, cornered, or trapped, and wants to escape.
However, many frog species have toxic skin secretions that they can use to defend themselves against predators, including humans. It is needed to be cautious when handling any frog, as even the harmless-looking ones could pose a threat. So even though a frog won’t necessarily attack a person, the toxic secretions can be deadly if a human touches the frog’s skin.
Do Frogs Eat Humans?
Frogs do not eat humans and cannot consume a person’s body because it is too large. Frogs are generalist carnivores that eat insects, slugs, works, and other species as well as other frogs.
A frog does not have the capability to eat a human. These amphibians are too small and do not have strong enough teeth or jaws to consume an entire body.
Are Frogs Friendly?
You can visit our other guide about are frogs friendly to find out how nice these amphibians can be to people in the wild and at a zoo.
Frog Dangerous & Aggressive Summary
You now know the answer to the question about are frogs dangerous.
As you discovered in this guide, frogs do not eat humans or attack people unless they feel threatened. Therefore, are frogs aggressive or not depends on if these amphibians are being encroached upon by people in nature or in captivity.
I’m the lead editor and writer for Animal Answer Guide. I enjoy sharing expert knowledge on the various characteristics of common species within the five distinct groups of animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
