Kingdom Animalia Order Anura Genus Telmatobius Higher classification Telmatobius | Phylum Chordata Family Telmatobiidae Scientific name Telmatobius chusmisensis Rank Species | |
Similar Telmatobius, Frog, Amphibians, Telmatobiinae | ||
Telmatobius chusmisensis is a species of frog in the Telmatobiidae family. It is endemic to northern Chile and only known from its type locality, Chusmisa in the Iquique Province.
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Description
Males measure 50–53 mm (2.0–2.1 in) and females 57–63 mm (2.2–2.5 in) in snout–vent length. Head is slightly narrower than body. Forelimbs are moderaterely robust; hind limbs are long and have webbed toes. Ground colour of dorsum is light brown or greenish brown, profusely spotted with minute, black spots. Belly is white or light yellow. Ventral surfaces of thighs are light brown. There are irregular apricot-coloured spots on dorsum and ventral surfaces of thighs. Dorsal surface, flanks, and limbs are covered with small, spiculate granules.
Tadpoles are large, from 38 to 99 mm (1.5 to 3.9 in) in total length and from 15 to 37 mm (0.59 to 1.46 in) in body length. One tadpole was near metamorphosis and measured 33 mm (1.3 in) in snout–vent length.
Habitat
Telmatobius chusmisensis were collected from a small, slow-moving stream in a semi-desert area. Adults were encountered below stones and tadpoles below aquatic plants along the banks of the stream. Little is known about the ecology of this species.