Thinking of frogs, a full row of teeth is not something that immediately comes to mind. When we think of frogs, we think of their long tongues stretching out to catch flies, with them being swallowed almost immediately.
However, not all frogs are the same, and one frog that is a little fiercer than others is the Pacman frog.
Do Pacman frogs have teeth? Pacman frogs do have teeth, and actually have two different types of teeth in their mouth. They have maxillary and vomerine teeth, both being found only in the upper jaw. Pacman frogs are carnivorous, and therefore need the teeth to feed.
So, if you are considering keeping a Pacman frog as a pet, it would be worth your while to keep reading to find out a little more about their teeth!
The Teeth Of A Pacman Frog
Pacman frogs have two types of teeth, both of which are only present in their top jaw. They have maxillary teeth and vomerine teeth. These are very different from each other but serve similar purposes. Here is a little about each:
Maxillary Teeth
The maxillary teeth of a Pacman frog are not very visible, and form a neat teeth line at the edge of the mouth. All of these teeth are the same shape and size.
The main purpose of these teeth is to hold prey in place. They are not for chewing (as frogs do not chew), and instead simply grip onto prey while the tongue and mouth get ready to swallow the prey whole, by directing it towards the back of the throat.
Pacman frogs have around 40 maxillary teeth on the top of their mouth. These little cone-shaped teeth do a good job at holding prey, and if they fall out, there are spare teeth that regularly replace older ones, much like leopard geckos.
Vomerine Teeth
Vomerine teeth are found in pairs behind the maxillary teeth and behind the mucus membrane. Much like the maxillary teeth, these are used to assist with keeping prey in place while the rest of the frog’s mouth works to swallow the food whole.
Found in pairs, these do offer more stability of holding prey down, and if lost, there are spare teeth that replace these.
Will My Pacman Frog Bite?
If you are unlucky, there is a chance that your Pacman frog can bite you. They are known as one of the few frog species that will bite at someone or something if they feel threatened.
While their teeth are relatively small, they are strong and can cause quite a nasty little bite. However, by treating your Pacman frog right and caring for it properly, it should become used to your presence, and should not feel a need to bite you. The only time after this that they might bite is if they mistake your fingers for food.
The worst part of a Pacman frog bite is if they hold on and don’t let go straight away. While your instinct might be to shake them off, this can harm your frog. Instead, quickly pour some water over your frog, or place them under a tap to get them to let go.
If bitten by your Pacman frog, clean the wound well and place some antibacterial cream on to kill any bacteria or germs.
Final Thoughts
The teeth of a Pacman frog are there to help them latch onto and hold their prey in place. This gives the frog time to position the prey properly and prepare to swallow it whole.
As a pet owner, these teeth can cause a little bit of harm if your Pacman frog feels threatened by you, or if they mistake your fingers for food.
If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by your Pacman frog, stay calm, place them back in their enclosure, and care for the wound. While their teeth are small, they can still draw blood!
Related Questions
Are Pacman Frogs Aggressive?
Pacman frogs are aggressive if paired with another Pacman frog. They love spending time alone, and will often spend ages burrowed in soil. Your Pacman frog will live a peaceful life on its own, and if placed with another Pacman frog, will bite or even eat them.
Can You Hold A Pacman Frog?
It is not advised to hold a Pacman frog. They have very sensitive skin and do not like the feeling of being handled. However, if you need to clean their enclosure you can lift them up and into a safer environment.
Just make sure not to aggravate them, and leave them to acclimatize to their home for a few days before attempting to handle them. It’s also best to handle them using gloves.
Should You Get A Pacman Frog As A Pet?
If you’re seriously considering adopting a Pacman frog, know that any animal you decide to add to your family is now completely dependent on you.
No matter whether you’re getting anything from a betta fish to a horse, you should research their needs extensively to know whether you’re up to the task of keeping an animal happy and healthy.
Here’s a video from the Lori’s Hartland channel on YouTube explaining some important things to know about caring for a Pacman frog.
Up Next: Can Snakes Eat Frogs?