| Telmatobius ventriflavum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Holotype male from Huaytará Province in 2012 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Telmatobiidae |
| Genus: | Telmatobius |
| Species: | T. ventriflavum |
| Binomial name | |
| Telmatobius ventriflavum Catenazzi, Vargas García & Lehr, 2015 [2] | |
Telmatobius ventriflavum, the Andean Water Frog, is a species of water frogs from the western Andes in Peru. [3] [4]
The specific name is taken from the Latin words venter ("belly"), and flavus ("yellow"), referring to the coloration of the species' ventral surfaces. [3]
Specimens of the species were discovered in October 2012, during a survey conducted for the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. The population was described as a new species, separate from the nearby Telmatobius intermedius and T. rimac , in the journal ZooKeys in February 2015. [3]
The discovery of the species was unusual, in that the surrounding area is generally considered "species-poor", and already has two species of Telmatobius frogs nearby (T. rimac200 kilometres (120 mi) to the north and T. intermedius170 kilometres (110 mi) to the south). Furthermore, the type locality is easily accessible, being in proximity to the highway that connects the city of Ayacucho with the Pan-American Highway. [3]
The species is slender. Females measure 49.3–55.7 millimetres (1.94–2.19 in) in length and weigh 11.5–19.7 grams (0.41–0.69 oz), while males measure approximately 48.5 millimetres (1.91 in) and weigh 13.6 grams (0.48 oz). The head is flat, wider than long, and makes up slightly more than 30% of the body length. T. ventriflavum has large eyes and a rounded snout; the tongue is rounded and the species lacks vocal slits. [3]
T. ventriflavum lacks webbing on its fingers but has webbing on its toes. Its skin is smooth both ventrally (below) and dorsally (above), but the back is patterned with miniature pustules. [3]
Coloration on the dorsal portion of the body ranges from light golden-yellow to golden-tan, with dark brown, golden-yellow, and red mottling. The sides are tan yellow, fading into golden-yellow or marigold on the throat and belly with depigmented areas on the chest. Coloration of the limbs varies between sexes: in males the ventral surface is bright marigold or orange colored, whereas in females it tends to be either golden-yellow or light marigold. The species has thin turquoise rings around the eyes, which are light grey in color. [3]
The species is found around elevations of 3,900 metres (12,800 ft) (possibly up to 4,300 metres (14,100 ft)) on the Pacific (western) slopes of the Andes in Peru. Specimens have only been collected from a single locality, a stream that drains into the Huaytará river, a tributary of the Pisco river. The surrounding area is sparse, arid Puna grassland. Most rainfall occurs between January and March. [3]
T. ventriflavum was found in a small stream, approximately 10 metres (33 ft) wide. The stream alternates between gravel- and pebble-bedded pools and small waterfalls and riffles. [3]
The species' range is restricted by the surrounding environment, which is arid and limits dispersal. [3]
The species is believed to have an extended breeding period, with the developmental stages of captured tadpoles suggesting that it even breeds during the dry period. [3]
T. ventriflavum's habitat is truncated by a dam and reservoir 500 metres (1,600 ft) downstream of the type locality. The construction of pipelines and roads are also a threat, as is water contamination stemming from nearby mining and agriculture. [3]
The species has also been observed to be infected with the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , which causes the disease chytridiomycosis. Infection rates were approximately 40.0% among mature specimens and 53.5% among tadpoles. B. dendrobatidis has had catastrophic effects on other Telmatobius species throughout the Andes region of South America: the extinction of three species from Ecuador has been linked to chytridiomycosis outbreaks, as has the decline of T. marmoratus and T. timens from Peru and three species from Argentina. T. jelskii from Peru and T. gigas from Bolivia have also been affected by the fungus. [3]
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, separated into two distinct population segments (DPS): a northern DPS, listed endangered in 2014, and a southern DPS that was listed endangered in 2002.
Indirana semipalmata is a species of frog endemic to the Western Ghats region of southern India. They are small frogs, reaching lengths of about 36 mm (1.4 in) from snout to vent. The species breeds during the monsoons, laying their eggs on moist rocks and tree bark. Their tadpoles are terrestrial – hatching, feeding, and undergoing metamorphosis without ever entering any standing bodies of water.
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.
Pristimantis katoptroides is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is found in the eastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador and Cordillera Central and eastern Andean foothills in northwestern Peru. The specific name katoptroides is Greek for "mirror-like" and refers to the similarity of this species to Pristimantis crucifer, but being found on the other side of the Andes. Common name Puyo robber frog has been proposed for it.
Gastrotheca excubitor is a species of frog in the family Hemiphractidae. It is endemic to southern Peru and occurs in the Amazonian slopes and crests of the Cordillera Oriental in the Cusco Region; records from the Cajamarca Region are likely erroneous. It is likely to include cryptic species. Common name Abra Acanacu marsupial frog has been coined for it.
Phrynopus dagmarae is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to the Andes of Peru and only known from the Pachitea and Ambo Provinces in the Huánuco Region, from near the type locality. The specific name dagmarae honors Dagmar Schramm from Germany.
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 niger is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to the Andes of Ecuador, with records from both Amazonian and Pacific versants. Last seen in 1994, it is feared that this species may be extinct. Common name black water frog has been coined for it.
Telmatobius pefauri is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to extreme northern Chile. It was already feared that this species is extinct, but recent research has suggested that the species is extant at several localities in the Arica y Parinacota Region, albeit at low numbers. Furthermore, morphological and genetic data suggest that Telmatobius zapahuirensis is a synonym of Telmatobius pefauri. Common name Arico water frog has been coined for this species.
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. It may already be extinct, although it is doubtfully distinct from Telmatobius halli.
Telmatobius culeus, commonly known as the Titicaca water frog or Lake Titicaca frog, is a medium-large to very large and endangered species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is entirely aquatic and found only 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.
Atelopus patazensis is a species of toads in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Peru and only known from its type locality in Quebrada Los Alisos, near Pataz in the La Libertad Region. There is, however, an unverified observation from Llacuabamba, about 40 km south of Pataz.
Atelopus pyrodactylus is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. It is endemic to Peru and only known from its type locality in the northern section of the Río Huallaga basin, Department of San Martín, on the eastern slope of the Cordillera Central. The specific name pyrodactylus refers to the light orange fingers and toes of this frog.
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.
Raorchestes kakachi is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India. The specific name kakachi refers to the type locality from where the species was described.
Pristimantis attenboroughi, also known as Attenborough's rubber frog, is a species of frog in the family Strabomantidae. It is endemic to the Peruvian Andes and has been recorded in and near the Pui–Pui Protection Forest. It is the first amphibian named after David Attenborough. It was discovered by Edgar Lehr and Rudolf von May during a period of two years of studying the forests of Peru. The species description was based on 34 specimens caught at elevations of 3,400–3,936 m (11,155–12,913 ft) above sea level.
Telmatobius mantaro is a species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. It is endemic to the eastern Cordillera Central of the Peruvian Andes. The specific name mantaro refers to the Mantaro River running near the type locality.
Boana gladiator, the Cusco gladiator tree frog, is a frog in the family Hylidae endemic to Peru, in Cusco and Puno. Scientists have seen it between 1,097 and 1,975 metres above sea level in cloud forests.
Media related to Telmatobius ventriflavum at Wikimedia Commons
