Telmatobius macrostomus

Telmatobius macrostomus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Amphibia
Order:Anura
Family:Telmatobiidae
Genus:Telmatobius
Species: T. macrostomus
Binomial name
Telmatobius macrostomus
(Peters, 1873)
Synonyms

Batrachophrynus microphtalmus Werner, 1901
Batrachophrynus macrostomus Peters, 1873

Telmatobius macrostomus, also known as the Lake Junin (giant) frog or Andes smooth frog, is a very large species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae.[1][2][3] This completely aquatic frog is endemic to lakes at altitudes of 3,200–4,300 m (10,500–14,100 ft) in the Andes of Junín and Pasco in central Peru.[1] An introduced population occurs in slow-moving parts of the upper Mantaro River.[1][4]

This endangered frog is mainly threatened by capture for human consumption and predation by introduced species (trout), but also by pollution from mining and human waste.[1][3][5]

Together with the closely related Amable Maria frog (T. brachydactylus), it is sometimes placed in the genus Batrachophrynus.[6]

Ecology and appearance

T. macrostomus is completely aquatic and almost entirely restricted to lakes (notably Lake Junín), but it has also been introduced to the upper part of the Mantaro River.[1][3] It is found both in marshy and deep lakes.[1] This smooth-skinned, dark brownish frog generally ranges from shallow water to a depth of 12 m (39 ft).[4] In its native habitat the water temperature is typically around 10–17 °C (50–63 °F).[4][7] Captives have been kept in aquariums for more than 5 years at around 20 °C (68 °F).[4]

It is among the largest frogs in the world, measuring up to 30 cm (12 in) in snout-vent length[5] and 70 cm (28 in) in outstretched length.[8][9] It can weigh up to about 2 kg (4.5 lb)[8] and the hindlegs alone can surpass 40 cm (16 in) in length.[4] Very large individuals are rare; most adults have a snout-vent length of 12.4–17.3 cm (4.9–6.8 in) and weigh less than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb).[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Angulo, A.; Sinsch, U. & Aguilar Puntriano, C. (2004). "Telmatobius macrostomus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2004: e.T2645A9464237. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T2645A9464237.en. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2015). "Telmatobius macrostomus (Peters, 1873)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Angulo, A. (2008). "Conservation needs of Batrachophrynus and Telmatobius frogs of the Andes of Peru." Conservation & Society 6(4): 328-333. DOI: 10.4103/0972-4923.49196
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sinsch, U. (1990). Froschlurche (Anura) der zentral-peruanischen Anden: Artdiagnose, Taxonomie, Habitate, Verhaltensökologie. Salamandra 26(2/3): 177- 214.
  5. 1 2 Halliday, T. (2016). The Book of Frogs: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species from around the World. University Of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0226184654
  6. ↑ Stuart, Hoffmann, Chanson, Cox, Berridge, Ramani and Young, editors (2008). Threatened Amphibians of the World. ISBN 978-84-96553-41-5
  7. ↑ Shoobridge, D. (February 2006). Protected Area Profile Perú - Junín National Reserve, ParksWatch Perú.
  8. 1 2 El Observador (11 April 2011). Al rescate de la rana gigante de Perú. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  9. ↑ Fjeldså, J. (1984). Three endangered South American grebes (Podiceps): case histories and the ethics of saving species by human intervention. Ann. Zool. Fennici 21: 411-416


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