Atelognathus patagonicus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Atelognathus patagonicus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Atelognathus patagonicus in Neuquén, Argentina | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Batrachylidae |
| Genus: | Atelognathus |
| Species: | A. patagonicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Atelognathus patagonicus (Gallardo, 1962) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Batrachophrynus patagonicus Gallardo, 1962 | |
Atelognathus patagonicus is a species of frog in the family Batrachylidae. It is endemic to the volcanic tablelands of Neuquén Province, western Argentina. Its common name is Patagonia frog.[2][3]
The adult measures about 50 mm in snout-vent length. The skin of the dorsum is brown or green in color with dark spots. This frog has two body types, and individuals can transition between the two during their lives. Frogs with the aquatic body type spend a great deal of time in the water. They have more folds in their skin and more webbed skin between their toes. Their bellies are also notably orange in color. Frogs with the littoral or terrestrial body type spend time more land. They have less excess skin and gray bellies.[3]
The frogs tend to have the aquatic body type if they have access to a year-round or permanent lagoon. They become littoral if they have access to only temporary bodies of water (which dry up for at least part of the year). Scientists believe this is related to the foods they eat in these two different lifestyles.[3]
Diet
The adult frogs eat invertebrates. The amphipods in pools of water have carotenoids in their bodies. This may be the cause of the yellow ventral areas of aquatic frogs. Littoral frogs eat insects and arachnids that they find on land.[3]
Reproduction
The tadpoles' bodies and tails are gold-brown in color with brown spots. The caudal fin is clear. The tadpoles swim in shallow water and eat tiny animals and algae. Some of them undergo metamorphosis relatively soon, but others overwinter as tadpoles and undergo metamorphosis in the spring. This appears to depend on whether they live in a permanent or temporary body of water.[3]
