Lepidobatrachus llanensis

Lepidobatrachus llanensis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Ceratophryidae
Genus:	Lepidobatrachus
Species:	L. llanensis
Binomial name
Lepidobatrachus llanensis Reig and Cei  [ es ], 1963

Lepidobatrachus llanensis (common name: llanos frog; ^{[1] [2]} in Spanish: escuerzo ^[1] ) is a species of frogs in the family Ceratophryidae. It is found in northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southern Bolivia. ^{[1] [2]}

Habitat and ecology

Lepidobatrachus llanensis is an aquatic frog inhabiting dry scrubland and semi-arid areas at elevations below 300 m (980 ft). Breeding takes place in temporary pools and water tanks on cattle farms. During the dry season these frogs burrow underground, only to emerge again after rain. ^[1] To deal with dry conditions, they form a protective cocoon ^{[1] [3]} that greatly reduces the loss of water. ^[3]

Conservation

Lepidobatrachus llanensis is an uncommon frog living in isolated populations. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by expanding agriculture, wood extraction, and pollution. It occurs in a number of protected areas in Argentina and Paraguay. ^[1]

References

1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2021). "Lepidobatrachus llanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021 e.T57112A101428639. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T57112A101428639.en . Retrieved 5 February 2023.
2. Frost, Darrel R. (2023). "Lepidobatrachus llanensis Reig and Cei, 1963". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001 . Retrieved 5 February 2023.
3. McClanahan, Lon L.; Shoemaker, Vaughan H. & Ruibal, Rodolfo (1976). "Structure and function of the cocoon of a ceratophryd frog". Copeia. 1976 (1): 179–185. doi:10.2307/1443788. JSTOR   1443788.