Telmatobius gigas
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| Telmatobius gigas | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Telmatobiidae |
| Genus: | Telmatobius |
| Species: | T. gigas |
| Binomial name | |
| Telmatobius gigas Vellard, 1969 | |
Telmatobius gigas is an Endangered species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae.[2][3]
It is endemic to the Huayllamarca River area. Scientists have observed it between 3,765 metres (12,352 ft) and 4,450 metres (14,600 ft) above sea level in Carangas Province in Bolivia.[1] Its tiny range makes it highly vulnerable to pollution, and it may also be threatened by over-harvesting for medicinal use and the disease chytridiomycosis.[1]
Description
As suggested by its scientific name, this is a very large species of frog with a snout-vent length of up to 10.9 centimetres (4.3 in) in females (males are smaller).[4] In the genus Telmatobius, only two other threatened species, the Titicaca water frog (T. culeus) and Lake Junin frog (T. macrostomus), are larger.[4][5]
The coloration of dorsum varies, scientists believe along gender lines: Females are olive-green in color with dark spots on top of green bumps while males are brown with other marks. The flanks are beige with beige-yellow bumps. The belly is cream-white in color with gray dots.[3]
Young
This frog's tadpoles are the largest of any Telmatobius species. The largest tadpoles recorded was 109 mm long at stage 38. The tadpole has a round snoute with large papillae around the mouth.[3]
