Kingdom Animalia Order Anura Genus Telmatobius Higher classification Batrachophrynus | Phylum Chordata Family Telmatobiidae Scientific name Telmatobius macrostomus Rank Species | |
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Similar Frog, Amphibians, Telmatobiinae, Telmatobius atahualpai, Junin grebe | ||
Telmatobius macrostomus, also known as the Lake Junin (giant) frog or Andes smooth frog, is a very large species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae. This completely aquatic frog is endemic to lakes at altitudes of 3,200–4,300 m (10,500–14,100 ft) in the Andes of Junín and Pasco in central Peru. An introduced population occurs in slow-moving parts of the upper Mantaro River.
This endangered frog is mainly threatened by capture for human consumption and predation by introduced species (trout), but also by pollution from mining and human waste.
Together with the closely related Amable Maria frog (T. brachydactylus), it is sometimes placed in the genus Batrachophrynus.
Ecology and appearance
T. macrostomus is completely aquatic and almost entirely restricted to lakes (notably Lake Junín), but it has also been introduced to the upper part of the Mantaro River. It is found both in marshy and deep lakes. This smooth-skinned, dark brownish frog generally ranges from shallow water to a depth of 12 m (39 ft). In its native habitat the water temperature is typically around 10–17 °C (50–63 °F). Captives have been kept in aquariums for more than 5 years at around 20 °C (68 °F).
It is among the largest frogs in the world, measuring up to 30 cm (12 in) in snout-vent length and 70 cm (28 in) in outstretched length. It can weigh up to about 2 kg (4.5 lb) and the hindlegs alone can surpass 40 cm (16 in) in length. Very large individuals are rare; most adults have a snout-vent length of 12.4–17.3 cm (4.9–6.8 in) and weigh less than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb).