It's a frog eat frog world out there!

Bullfrogs don't mess about when they're hungry - and even cannibalism isn't ruled out.

This huge chap appeared out of a swimming pool duct in Maryland, USA, with a pair of legs sticking out of his mouth that quite clearly belonged to one of his cousins.

Husband and wife Tad and Karen Bacon saw the greedy amphibian swallowing a smaller member of his species while cleaning their pool.

And they quickly managed to capture the bizarre sight on camera before the bullfrog jumped back into the water to devour the rest of his meal.

Karen, 50, said: 'I heard my husband screaming 'Get your camera, you are not going to believe this!'

'When I go over to him I was stunned by what I saw. It made me a bit squeamish and totally fascinated at the same time. I still have a hard time looking at the picture.

'All I kept thinking was how did he get something that large in his mouth.

'I was only able to get off a few shots before he jumped into the bottom of the pool.'

Mrs Bacon, from Parkton, in Maryland, added: 'This particular species is a bullfrog, which is native to Canada and the United States.

'They will actually eat any small animal that they can stuff down their throats, including snakes, small birds, rodents other frogs and toads.

'They hibernate underground in the winter and usually live near ponds and streams.'

Bullfrogs can grow up to six inches in body length, although some have been recorded as large as eight inches. Their legs can be up to ten inches long.

The species is thought to prey on anything it can overpower and fit in to its stomach - this can range from rodents to turtles, snakes birds and bats.

The frog strikes by lunging at its prey and engulfing it in one go - any meal that does not fit in in one go is usually forced in with its forearms.

Known for its voracious appetite, it has dramatically affected the natural ecology of countries that it has been introduced to.