| Inquisivi water frog | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Telmatobiidae |
| Genus: | Telmatobius |
| Species: | T. espadai |
| Binomial name | |
| Telmatobius espadai De la Riva, 2005 | |
Telmatobius espadai, also known as the Inquisivi water frog, is a species of frogs in the family Telmatobiidae, one of fourteen species of Telmatobius water frogs endemic to Bolivia. [2]
This small water frog has greenish-brown skin, speckled with black and yellow flecks, and is well camouflaged as it sits under tree roots or stones. On close inspection it is possible to see that its rather robust body has many small bumps, known as pustules, on the back. The undersides of the legs are orange, and the underbelly and throat are grey. [3] The hind legs are long and slender, suited to propelling the frog through water, and its feet are only partially webbed, indicating that it spends part of its life on land. Juveniles of this species are greener than adults with more yellow flecks. [3]
Telmatobius espadai occurs only in Bolivia, where it has been found in just two areas: the Rio Miguillas valley near Choquetanga Chico, in the department of La Paz, and near Rio Apaza, in the department of Cochabamba. [2] [3]
An inhabitant of clear streams in the upper limits of cloud forest, this water frog occurs at 3,000–3,500 metres (9,800–11,500 ft) above sea level. Adults are generally found resting above the water sheltered by tree trunks and stones, whilst tadpoles and juveniles have been found hidden under stones and amongst aquatic plants. [2] [3]
Little is known about the biology of this extremely rare species, which is thought to live a partially terrestrial life. [1] The tadpole possesses a large oral sucker, a unique feature amongst Telmatobius water frogs. [3] The function of this sucker has not yet been determined, although it is possible it may help the tadpole cling on to surfaces to prevent it from being swept away by currents, or it could even be used to suck up prey. [4] [5]
Telmatobius espadai is now extremely rare; a population census undertaken in 1998 found just one tadpole. This tadpole showed symptoms of chytridiomycosis, a disease that causes death in frogs and is thought to contribute to declines, and even extinctions, in frog species around the world. [2] [6] There are also significant concerns over the possible effects of a road situated very near to one of the locations where the frog has been located. [2] In addition, various species of water frog are sometimes consumed as part of drink with supposed aphrodisiac qualities, [7] and this may also have contributed to the decline of this species.
Despite Telmatobius espadai being classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, [1] there are, as of February 2010, no known conservation methods in place for this species and no current information on its status. The Rio Apaza population is located on the edges of the Carrasco National Park, and if it persists it will hopefully benefit from this proximity. [2]
Amphibians are ectothermic, tetrapod vertebrates of the class Amphibia. All living amphibians belong to the group Lissamphibia. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, with most species living within terrestrial, fossorial, arboreal or freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Thus amphibians typically start out as larvae living in water, but some species have developed behavioural adaptations to bypass this.
A tadpole is the larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian. Most tadpoles are fully aquatic, though some species of amphibians have tadpoles that are terrestrial. Tadpoles have some features that may not be found in adult amphibians such as a lateral line, gills, and tails. As they undergo metamorphosis, the diet of tadpoles changes and they will start to breathe air.
Since the 1980s, decreases in amphibian populations, including population decline and localized mass extinctions, have been observed in locations all over the world. These declines are known as one of the most critical threats to global biodiversity.
Telmatobius is a genus of frogs native to the Andean highlands in South America, where they are found in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and northern Chile. It is the only genus in the family Telmatobiidae. Some sources recognize Batrachophrynus as a valid genus distinct from Telmatobius.
The mountain yellow-legged frog, also known as the southern mountain yellow-legged frog, is a species of true frog endemic to California in the United States. It occurs in the San Jacinto Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, and San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California and the Southern Sierra Nevada. It is a federally listed endangered species.
The green-eyed treefrog is a species of Australasian treefrog in the family Pelodryadidae that occurs in the Wet Tropics of Australia.
Telmatobius macrostomus, also known as the Lake Junin (giant) frog or Andes smooth frog, is a very large and endangered species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. This completely aquatic frog is endemic to lakes and associated waters at altitudes of 4,000–4,600 m (13,100–15,100 ft) in the Andes of Junín and Pasco in central Peru. It has been introduced to slow-moving parts of the upper Mantaro River, although it is unclear if this population still persists.
Lepidobatrachus laevis, widely known as Budgett's frog, is a species of frog in the family Ceratophryidae, discovered by John Samuel Budgett. It is often kept as a pet. It has acquired a number of popular nicknames, including hippo frog, Freddy Krueger frog, and escuerzo de agua.
Telmatobius bolivianus is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to the Eastern Andes of Bolivia. It was formerly the most common and widespread Telmatobius of Bolivia, but has had a drastic population decline since the mid-2000s. It is an aquatic frog occurring in fast-flowing rivers and streams in cloud forest and Yungas forest. It is threatened by chytridomycosis as well as habitat loss caused by logging and agricultural expansion. Water pollution and aquaculture are also threats.
Telmatobius dankoi, also known as the Loa water frog is a species of critically endangered aquatic frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to Chile and is only known from its type locality near Calama, in the El Loa province. Only 14 individuals are known from captivity following the destruction of its habitat prior to 2019, so it may already be extinct in the wild.
Telmatobius halli is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to northern Chile and only known from its type locality near Ollagüe. The specific name halli honors Frank Gregory Hall, an American specialist on the effects of high altitudes on human body and collector of the type series. Its common name is Hall's water frog.
Telmatobius ignavus is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to the Cordillera de Huancabamba in the Department of Piura, Peru. Common name Piura water frog has been coined for it.
Telmatobius mayoloi is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and rivers. This species is primarily found in central Peru. They can also be found in Andes, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina in high elevation areas ranging from 1,300 to 5,400 meters high.
Telmatobius timens is a species of frogs in the family Telmatobiidae. It is found in western Bolivia and southeastern Peru at elevations of 3,350–3,750 m (10,990–12,300 ft) asl.
Telmatobius vilamensis is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to northern Chile and only known from its type locality, Río Vilama near San Pedro de Atacama. The specific name vilamensis refers to the type locality.
The Sehuencas water frog is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to Bolivia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, rivers, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss. No individuals had been encountered in the wild between 2008 and 2019.
Dyscophus antongilii, the Madagascar tomato frog, is a species of frog in the family Microhylidae.
Telmatobius culeus, commonly known as the Titicaca water frog, is a medium-large to very large and endangered species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is entirely aquatic and only found in the Lake Titicaca basin, including rivers that flow into it and smaller connected lakes like Arapa, Lagunillas and Saracocha, in the Andean highlands of Bolivia and Peru. In reference to its excessive amounts of skin, it has jokingly been referred to as the Titicaca scrotum (water) frog.
Ecnomiohyla rabborum, commonly known as Rabbs' fringe-limbed treefrog, is an extinct species of frog in the family Hylidae. They were relatively large frogs that inhabited the forest canopies of central Panama. Like other members of the genus Ecnomiohyla, they were capable of gliding by spreading their enormous and fully webbed hands and feet during descent. The males of the species were highly territorial and would guard water-filled tree holes used for breeding. They were also the ones responsible for guarding and caring for the young, including providing food. They were the only known species of frog where the tadpoles derived nutrition by feeding on the skin cells of their fathers.
Telmatobius ventriflavum, the Andean Water Frog, is a species of water frogs from the western Andes in Peru.
This article incorporates text from the ARKive fact-file "Telmatobius espadai" under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License and the GFDL .
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