Telmatobius dankoi
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| Telmatobius dankoi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Telmatobiidae |
| Genus: | Telmatobius |
| Species: | T. dankoi |
| Binomial name | |
| Telmatobius dankoi | |
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.[1][3] 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.[4][5] However, it is doubtfully distinct from Telmatobius halli and thus may not be a distinct species.[6]
The specific name dankoi honors professor Danko Brncic, a Chilean geneticist.[2] Prior to its description in 1999, it was confused with Telmatobius halli.[2] However, multiple studies indicate little divergence between this species and Telmatobius vilamensis, and T. vilmanensis itself is doubtfully distinct from T. halli, and thus all three species may be conspecific with one another.[6][7][8]
Description
Adult males measure 49–55 mm (1.9–2.2 in) and females 46–52 mm (1.8–2.0 in) in snout–vent length. There are small thorns on the posterior third of the body, flanks, head, and extremities. Tympanum and tympanic ring are absent. The toes are webbed. Males have small nuptial spines.[2]
The tadpoles are large: the longest measured tadpole was 85 mm (3.3 in). The body is ovoid and measures about 30 mm (1.2 in) among the largest tadpoles.[2]