Dumpling

Dumpling joined the collection as a tiny froglet and has been living up to the name ever since, growing at an impressive pace and treating every feeding like a competitive sport. Pixie frogs are ambush predators that spend most of their time buried with just their eyes showing, but drop a roach in the enclosure and Dumpling transforms into a surprisingly fast lunging machine.

Pixie frogs, also called African bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus), come from the savannas of southern Africa, where they survive long dry seasons by burrowing underground and sealing themselves in a waterproof cocoon of shed skin until the rains return. They are one of the largest frogs in the world, with big males topping two pounds, and they can live 20 years or more in captivity.

Fun fact: the “pixie” in pixie frog has nothing to do with being small and delicate. It comes from their scientific name, Pyxicephalus. These frogs also have sharp tooth-like spikes on their lower jaw, and dads are devoted parents, guarding thousands of tadpoles and even digging channels to save them when puddles dry up.