Telmatobius culeus
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''Telmatobius culeus'', commonly known as the Titicaca water frog, is a medium-large to very large and
endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...
species of
frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" ''Triadobatrachus'' is ...
in the family Telmatobiidae. It is entirely aquatic and only found in the
Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca (; es, Lago Titicaca ; qu, Titiqaqa Qucha) is a large freshwater lake in the Andes mountains on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It is often called the highest navigable lake in the world. By volume of water and by surface area, i ...
basin, including rivers that flow into it and smaller connected lakes like Arapa, Lagunillas and Saracocha, in the
Andean The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S l ...
highlands of Bolivia and Peru. In reference to its excessive amounts of skin, it has jokingly been referred to as the Titicaca
scrotum The scrotum or scrotal sac is an anatomical male reproductive structure located at the base of the penis that consists of a suspended dual-chambered sac of skin and smooth muscle. It is present in most terrestrial male mammals. The scrotum co ...
(water) frog. It is closely related to the more widespread and
semiaquatic In biology, semiaquatic can refer to various types of animals that spend part of their time in water, or plants that naturally grow partially submerged in water. Examples are given below. Semiaquatic animals Semi aquatic animals include: * Ve ...
marbled water frog (''T. marmoratus''),Victoriano, Muñoz-Mendoza, Sáez, Salinas, Muñoz-Ramírez, Sallaberry, Fibla and Méndez (2015). ''Evolution and Conservation on Top of the World: Phylogeography of the Marbled Water Frog (Telmatobius marmoratus Species Complex; Anura, Telmatobiidae) in Protected Areas of Chile.'' J.Hered. 106 (S1): 546-559. DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esv039 which also occurs in shallow, coastal parts of Lake Titicaca, but lacks the excessive skin and it is generally smaller (although overlapping in size with some forms of the Titicaca water frog).


Appearance


Size

In the late 1960s, an expedition led by Jacques Cousteau reported Titicaca water frogs up to in outstretched length and in weight, making these some of the largest exclusively aquatic frogs in the world (the exclusively aquatic
Lake Junin frog ''Telmatobius macrostomus'', also known as the Lake Junin (giant) frog or Andes smooth frog, is a very large and endangered species of frog in the family Telmatobiidae.Angulo, A. (2008). "Conservation needs of Batrachophrynus and Te ...
can grow larger, as can the
helmeted water toad ''Calyptocephalella'' is a genus of frogs in the family Calyptocephalellidae. It is represented by a single living species, ''Calyptocephalella gayi'', commonly known as the helmeted water toad, Chilean helmeted bull frog or wide-mouth toad. Add ...
and African
goliath frog The goliath frog (''Conraua goliath''), otherwise known commonly as the giant slippery frog and the goliath bullfrog, is a species of frog in the family Conrauidae. The goliath frog is the largest living frog. Specimens can grow up to in lengt ...
that sometimes can be seen on land). The snout–to–
vent Vent or vents may refer to: Science and technology Biology *Vent, the cloaca region of an animal * Vent DNA polymerase, a thermostable DNA polymerase Geology *Hydrothermal vent, a fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated wate ...
length of the Titicaca water frog is up to , and the hindlegs about twice as long. Most individuals do not reach such sizes, but are still big frogs. Titicaca water frogs of the largest and typical form, upon which the species was first described, usually have a snout–to–vent length of and weigh less than . This typical form tends to inhabit relatively deep water in eastern Lake Titicaca, but a minority of the individuals in the Coata River (which flows into far western Lake Titicaca) are similar. Several other forms are found at shallower depths in Lake Titicaca, in smaller lakes that are part of the same basin, and in rivers and streams that flow into Titicaca. These tend to be smaller in size with a snout–to–vent length of and historically they were recognized as separate species (''T. albiventris'' and ''T. crawfordi''), but there are extensive individual variations (sometimes even at a single location), no clear limits between the forms (they
intergrade In zoology, intergradation is the way in which two distinct subspecies are connected via areas where populations are found that have the characteristics of both. There are two types of intergradation: primary and secondary intergradation. Primary ...
) and taxonomic reviews have found that all are variants of the Titicaca water frog. Females generally reach maturity at a slightly larger size than males, they average larger and they also have a larger maximum size than males.


Morphology and color

In addition to total size, the various forms of the Titicaca water frog differ in the relative size of the dorsal shield (a hard structure on the back), relative width of the head and other morphological features, with most bays in Lake Titicaca having their own type. Compared to similar-sized frogs, the lungs of the Titicaca water frog only are about one-third the size. Instead it has excessive amounts of skin to help the frog respire in the cold water in which it lives. The baggy skin is particularly distinct in large individuals. In living individuals the skin folds are swollen with fluids, but if deflated the frog is actually relatively thin. The color is highly variable, but generally gray, brown or greenish above, and paler below. There are often some spots, which can form a marbled pattern. Animals in coastal southernmost Lake Titicaca typically have striped thighs and relatively bright orange underparts. If teased, Titicaca water frogs can secrete a sticky whitish fluid from their skin in defense.


Habitat and ecology

Titicaca water frogs live exclusively in lakes and rivers in the Lake Titicaca basin. Adults of the typical form generally live deeper than in Lake Titicaca itself, but the maximum limit is unknown. While exploring this lake in a mini submarine, Jacques Cousteau filmed individuals and their prints in the bottom silt at , which is the record depth for any species of frog. The other forms of the Titicaca water frog are found at no more than . A study that surveyed depths from the shore to near
Isla del Sol Isla del Sol (''Island of the Sun'') is an island in the southern part of Lake Titicaca. It is part of Bolivia, and specifically part of the La Paz Department. Geographically, the terrain is harsh; it is a rocky, hilly island with many eucalyptu ...
found that adults were most common at . In general, Titicaca water frogs prefer a mixed bottom; either a muddy or sandy bottom with some rocks, or with plenty of aquatic plants and some rocks.


Temperature

The Titicaca water frog spends its entire life in water that typically is , with the average annual temperature being near the middle and the minor seasonal variations being matched or even exceeded by the daily variations. The frogs can regulate their own temperature by moving between different
microhabitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
s with slightly different water temperatures and adults will sometimes position themselves on top of underwater rocks to bask in the sun that penetrate the lake's clear water.


Respiration

The water in which it lives generally is very rich in
oxygen Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as ...
, but limited by the low
atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure, also known as barometric pressure (after the barometer), is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. The standard atmosphere (symbol: atm) is a unit of pressure defined as , which is equivalent to 1013.25 millibars, ...
at the high altitude, from about at Lake Titicaca to at least in associated river and smaller lakes. It respires by its skin, which absorbs oxygen, functioning in a manner that is comparable to
gill A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...
s. It sometimes performs "push-ups" or "bobs" up–and–down to allow more water to pass by its large skin folds. The skin is very rich in
blood vessel The blood vessels are the components of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the human body. These vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to the tissues of the body. They also take waste and carbon dioxide away ...
s that extend to its outermost layer. Of all frogs, it has the lowest relative
red blood cell Red blood cells (RBCs), also referred to as red cells, red blood corpuscles (in humans or other animals not having nucleus in red blood cells), haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes (from Greek ''erythros'' for "red" and ''kytos'' for "holl ...
volume, but the highest count (i.e., many but small red blood cells) and with a high oxygen capacity. The frog mainly stays near the bottom and it has never been observed to surface in the wild, but captive studies indicate that it may surface to breathe using its diminutive lungs if the water is poorly oxygenated.


Behavior


Social behavior and breeding

Although a good swimmer, several individuals can often be seen laying inactively next to each other on the bottom. Titicaca water frogs tend to be most active during the night. The Titicaca water frog breeds year-round in shallow coastal water where the female lays about 80 to 500 eggs.
Amplexus Amplexus (Latin "embrace") is a type of mating behavior exhibited by some externally fertilizing species (chiefly amphibians and horseshoe crabs) in which a male grasps a female with his front legs as part of the mating process, and at the same ...
lasts one to three days. The "nest" site is typically guarded by the male until the eggs hatch into tadpoles, which happens after about one to two weeks. The tadpole stage lasts for a couple of months to a year. The tadpoles and young froglets stay in shallows, only moving to deeper water when reaching adulthood. Maturity is typically reached when about three years old.


Feeding

The Titicaca water frog mostly feeds on amphipods (especially '' Hyalella'') and snails (especially '' Heleobia'' and ''
Biomphalaria ''Biomphalaria'' is a genus of air-breathing freshwater snails, aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails and their allies.MolluscaBase (2018). Biomphalaria Preston, 1910. Accessed through: World Regi ...
''), but other food items are insects and tadpoles. Adults also regularly eat fish (primarily '' Orestias'', up to at least long) and cannibalism where large frogs eat small individuals has been recorded. It has an extremely low
metabolic rate Metabolism (, from el, μεταβολή ''metabolē'', "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are: the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run ce ...
; below that of all other frogs and among amphibians it is only higher than that of a few
salamander Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All t ...
s. In captivity, the tadpoles will feed on a range of tiny animals such as copepods,
water flea The Diplostraca or Cladocera, commonly known as water fleas, are a superorder of small crustaceans that feed on microscopic chunks of organic matter (excluding some predatory forms). Over 1000 species have been recognised so far, with many more ...
s, small worms and aquatic insect larvae.


Call and hearing

Similar to at least some other ''
Telmatobius ''Telmatobius'' is a genus of frogs native to the Andean highlands in South America, where they are found in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and northern Chile. It is the only genus in the family Telmatobiidae. Some sources recogni ...
'' species, male Titicaca water frogs will call underwater when near the shore. The simple and repeated call can only be detected with a submerged microphone from a relatively short distance. The function is not clear, but calling primarily occurs during the night and it is likely related to attracting females, courtship or aggression. The ears are greatly reduced and several of the structures, including the tympanic membrane and the Eustachian tubes, are absent. How the Titicaca water frog hears is unconfirmed, but it probably involves the lungs (as known from some other frogs).


Conservation status and threats

The Titicaca water frog has declined drastically, leading the IUCN to rank it as
endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...
. It was once common, with a survey in the late 1960s by Jacques Cousteau and colleagues counting 200 individuals in an only plot of the huge lake. Although not directly comparable, a survey in 2017 of three transects at 38 locations only detected a total of 45 Titicaca water frogs at 6 of the locations (none at the remaining). It is estimated that it declined by more than 80% in just 15 years, from 1990 to 2004, equalling three Titicaca water frog generations. Several other species in the genus ''
Telmatobius ''Telmatobius'' is a genus of frogs native to the Andean highlands in South America, where they are found in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and northern Chile. It is the only genus in the family Telmatobiidae. Some sources recogni ...
'' are facing similar risks. The causes of the precarious status of the Titicaca water frog are over-collecting for human consumption, pollution and introduced
trout Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera '' Oncorhynchus'', '' Salmo'' and '' Salvelinus'', all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word ''trout'' is also used as part of the name of some non-salm ...
, and it may also be threatened by disease.


Capture for food

The species is consumed as a traditional food or blended drink, and as
traditional medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...
that is claimed to be an
aphrodisiac An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. Substances range from a variety of plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals. Natural aphrodisiacs like cannabis or cocai ...
, and treat infertility,
tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, i ...
,
anemia Anemia or anaemia (British English) is a blood disorder in which the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen due to a lower than normal number of red blood cells, or a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin. When anemia comes on slowly, t ...
,
asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...
, osteoporosis and fever, but this is entirely unsupported by evidence. Dishes with Titicaca water frogs are also sold by some local restaurants as a novelty to tourists. On a month-long expedition to Lake Titicaca 100 years ago, this frog was not seen in any of the markets in the region, no locals were seen hunting for it and when asked locals said they considered it inedible. Whether this reporting was incomplete or there has been a significant change is unclear, but by the 2000s tens of thousands were caught for food and traditional medicine each year, and even though now illegal the trade has to some extent continued. Smaller numbers have been exported to other countries as food, for frog
leather Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hog ...
(skin) and the pet trade.


Pollution and mass deaths

Pollution from mining, agriculture and human waste has become a serious problem in the range of the Titicaca water frog. Breathing through their skin, Titicaca water frogs easily absorb chemicals from the water. Additionally, nutrient-rich pollution from agriculture can cause
algae bloom An algal bloom or algae bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in freshwater or marine water systems. It is often recognized by the discoloration in the water from the algae's pigments. The term ''algae'' encompasse ...
s where oxygen levels plummet, asphyxiating the fully aquatic frog. Historically, smaller mass deaths occasionally occurred in this species, but they are now fairly common and since 2015 there have also been large mass deaths. In April 2015, thousands of dead Titicaca water frogs were found in Bolivia on the shore of Lake Titicaca, and in October 2016 an estimated 10,000 were found dead in the Coata River (a Lake Titicaca tributary). At least in the latter case, scientists believe pollution killed the frogs. This is also supported by the timing of the mass deaths, which mostly occur in the rainy season where pollution likely is washed into the lake from the surroundings. Die-offs possibly are reversible. It has been observed that small Titicaca water frogs may appear in the vicinity of an affected area later, possibly recolonizing it.


Introduced trout

The introduced, non-native rainbow trout likely feed on tadpoles of the Titicaca water frog, the frogs are caught as bycatch in fishing nets set for trout, and coastal pens for
farming Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled peopl ...
trout overlap with the frog's breeding habitat and may impact it. Lake Saracocha was home to Titicaca water frogs of the "''albiventris''" form, but they have not been found in later surveys and it is suspected that introduced trout were implicated in their apparent disappearance from this location. Rainbow trout was introduced on a US initiative from their original North American range to Lake Titicaca in 1941–42 to aid the local fisheries that had relied on the smaller native fish. The fast-growing and relatively large non-native fish (trout and Argentinian silverside) are now the most important species in local fisheries, far exceeding the fisheries for the smaller natives ('' Orestias'' and ''
Trichomycterus ''Trichomycterus'' is a genus of fish in the family Trichomycteridae, the largest genus of its family with over 170 species currently described. This genus is native to freshwater habitats in Central and South America. These fish are generally sm ...
''). Because of the economic importance, these fisheries, along with trout farming, are supported by the local governments, making it unlikely that they would support any initiatives to reduce or even remove the trout from the region.


Disease

''
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ''Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis'' ( ), also known as ''Bd'' or the amphibian chytrid fungus, is a fungus that causes the disease chytridiomycosis in amphibians. Since its discovery in 1998 by Lee Berger, the disease devastated amphibian popula ...
'', a fungus that causes the disease
chytridiomycosis Chytridiomycosis ( ) is an infectious disease in amphibians, caused by the chytrid fungi '' Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis'' and '' Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans''. Chytridiomycosis has been linked to dramatic population declines or extinc ...
in frogs, has been present in the Andes for a long time. Although first definitely confirmed in Lake Titicaca in a study in 2012–2016, a later study of museum specimens found it in several old Titicaca water frogs, one of them collected in 1863, which is the oldest known case of the fungus in the world. However, this appears to involve a much less virulent form and widespread deaths of frogs in the highlands of Bolivia and Peru only began much later, in the 1990s, likely coinciding with the spread of a far more lethal form of the fungus. The rapid declines, often closely linked to chytridiomycosis, have affected several of its relatives (some of them likely now extinct), but the disease does not appear to have seriously affected the Titicaca water frog. This may change with
global warming In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...
if the water it lives in surpasses for longer periods, which is the optimum temperature for the disease (it is lethal to many frog species at ), or with increasing pollution, making the Titicaca water frogs more vulnerable to infection. Another factor that may afford some protection to this frog is the slightly basic water (generally pH ≥7.5) of Lake Titicaca, as the fungus has the best growth rates in neutral or slightly acidic conditions (pH 6–7).


Conservation measures

The Titicaca water frog is regarded as one of the
flagship species In conservation biology, a flagship species is a species chosen to raise support for biodiversity conservation in a given place or social context. Definitions have varied, but they have tended to focus on the strategic goals and the socio-economi ...
of Lake Titicaca, and in 2019 Peru issued a 1 sol coin with an illustration of this frog as part of an endangered wildlife series. In 2013, it was one of the contenders for "ugliest animal", a humorous public vote arranged by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, an organisation that attempts to draw attention to threatened species that lack the cuteness factor.


Protection

In Peru, trade outside its native range at Lake Titicaca has been illegal in decades, and in 2014 it was afforded full protection in the country, making it illegal to catch the species. The Peruvian authorities have seized thousands of Titicaca water frogs that were illegally traded within the country. In 2016–2017, it was legally protected from hunting in Bolivia. Since 2016, commercial international trade has been prohibited because it is included on
CITES Appendix I CITES (shorter name for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention) is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of intern ...
. Reserves where the frog occurs have been established, and Lake Titicaca is recognized as a Ramsar site, but the protection provided by reserves in this region is often very limited.


Projects

Bolivia and Peru have agreed to work together to resolve the environmental problems of Lake Titicaca, but corruption and the risk of local civil unrest might cause problems for the implementation of this. In 2016, the two countries pledged to use 500 million US dollars on it, including new water treatment facilities; otherwise waste water has been led directly into the lake. Conservation projects specifically aimed at the Titicaca water frog have been initiated, some of them in cooperation between Bolivia and Peru, including population monitoring, studies to find the reason for the mass deaths and efforts to reduce the demand for the species as a food/traditional medicine. Education projects have resulted in some former frog poachers instead becoming part of a handicraft collective that provides a small alternative income. The possibility of offering ecotours where tourists can snorkel in a
wetsuit A wetsuit is a garment worn to provide thermal protection while wet. It is usually made of foamed neoprene, and is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports and other activities in or on water. It ...
and see the frogs is being considered at
Isla de la Luna Isla de la Luna (translation: "Island of the Moon") is an island in La Paz Department, Bolivia. It is situated in Lake Titicaca, east of Isla del Sol ("Island of the Sun"). Legends in Inca mythology refer to the island as the location where Vi ...
(where the species is still quite common), and a pilot project related to this was completed in 2017. In 2020, scientists from Bolivia's Science Museum and Natural History Museum, Peru's Cayetano Heredia University, Pontifical Catholic University in Ecuador, Denver Zoo in the US and the NGO NaturalWay teamed up for further conservation efforts.


Captive breeding

Following its rapid decline in the wild, it was decided in the early 2000s that a secure captive population should be established, which may form the basis for future reintroductions into places where it has disappeared. Early captive breeding attempts were unsuccessful; the only partial success was a few tadpoles hatched at the
Bronx Zoo The Bronx Zoo (also historically the Bronx Zoological Park and the Bronx Zoological Gardens) is a zoo within Bronx Park in the Bronx, New York. It is one of the largest zoos in the United States by area and is the largest metropolitan zoo in ...
in the United States in the 1970s, but they did not
metamorphose Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops including birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation. Some insec ...
into frogs. The first fully successful captive breeding was relatively recent: In 2010 it was first bred at Huachipa Zoo in
Lima Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of ...
, Peru, and in 2012 it was first bred at Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d'Orbigny in
Cochabamba Cochabamba ( ay, Quchapampa; qu, Quchapampa) is a city and municipality in central Bolivia in a valley in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and the fourth largest city in Bolivia, with a population of 630 ...
, Bolivia. The breeding center in Bolivia is supported by Berlin Zoo, Germany, and also involves several other threatened Bolivian frogs. As a result of disagreement between the museum that provided space for it and the local biologists running it, it was briefly put on pause in 2018, but has since been continued. In 2015, the breeding project initiated in Peru was expanded when a group of Titicaca water frogs bred at Huachipa Zoo was sent to
Denver Zoo Denver Zoo is an nonprofit zoological garden located in City Park of Denver, Colorado, United States. Founded in 1896, it is operated by the Denver Zoological Foundation and funded in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD ...
, United States, which already supported the effort at Huachipa Zoo and was involved in the establishment of a laboratory and program working with the frogs at the Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru. The first successful captive breeding outside its native South America happened at the Denver Zoo in 2017–2018 (first tadpoles in 2017, first metamorphosis into young frogs in 2018). In 2019, some offspring from Denver were transferred to other US zoos and some to
Chester Zoo Chester Zoo is a zoo at Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, England. Chester Zoo was opened in 1931 by George Mottershead and his family. It is one of the UK's largest zoos at . The zoo has a total land holding of approximately . Chester Zoo is ope ...
in the United Kingdom, which redistributed them among several European zoos in an attempt of establishing another safe population. Among the European institutions,
Diergaarde Blijdorp ( ''Blijdorp Zoo''), officially Rotterdam Zoo, is a zoo located in the northwestern part of Rotterdam. It is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands, and has been operated by the ("Royal Rotterdam Zoo Foundation"). Divided into several zoogeog ...
,
Münster Zoo The Allwetterzoo Münster is a Zoo in Münster in Westfalen, Germany. The Zoo origins in the 1875 founded, and 1973 closed ''Zoologische Garten zu Münster'', replaced by the 1974 founded Allwetterzoo Münster, which was built in a tree-rich area ...
, Prague Zoo, Wrocław Zoo and
WWT Slimbridge WWT Slimbridge is a wetland wildlife reserve near Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, England. It is midway between Bristol and Gloucester on the eastern side of the estuary of the River Severn. The reserve, set up by the artist and naturalist Sir ...
already managed to breed it in the first year. In early 2019 (prior to the breeding at several European institutions and not counting those at the breeding center in Bolivia), there were about 3,000 Titicaca water frogs at the breeding center in Peru, and 250 in zoos in North America and Europe. Captives have lived for up to 20 years.


References


External links


Titicaca Water Frog
on
ARKive ARKive was a global initiative with the mission of "promoting the conservation of the world's threatened species, through the power of wildlife imagery", which it did by locating and gathering films, photographs and audio recordings of the worl ...
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1628083 culeus Amphibians of the Andes Amphibians of Bolivia Amphibians of Peru Amphibians described in 1876