FISH OF THE WEEK - Titicaca Water Frog (Telmatobius culeus)

Fish of the Week more like Aquatic Animal of the Week- we have the fully aquatic Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus) for this week's spotlight! Thank you, Uni, for the suggestion.

The Titicaca Lake system is the only place wild Titicaca water frogs call home. It is situated high in the Andes mountains on the border between Peru and Bolivia. These frogs are one of the largest aquatic frogs in the world, some forms being reported to weigh up to 2lbs (1kg) and grow up to 2ft (60cm) in length when fully outstretched. Most frogs take on a smaller form depending on their location in the lake system. The lake is 12,500ft (3,810m) above sea level, making the water very oxygen-poor. Since the frogs can only absorb oxygen through their skin, they take on a bizarre "baggy" appearance from the excess amount of skin that they grow. In order to maximize oxygenated water contact with their skin, the frogs will bob up and down. The water is a cold 46–63°F (8–17°C), but the frogs are able to thermoregulate by basking on shallow rocks where the sun can easily penetrate the clear water. Generally they have gray, brown or green dorsal sides with pale ventral sides. Frogs in the south typically have striped thighs and bright orange undersides. Adults have been reported to dive 400 ft (120 m), which is the record for any frog species. Prey includes amphipods, snails, insects, fish, and even other frogs. They don't need to eat much because of their extremely low metabolic rate. Often times the frogs can be seen sitting motionless on the lake bed, sometimes clustered in groups. As a defense mechanism they can ooze a white liquid out of their skin to confuse the predator and make an escape.

This species is critically endangered due to its limited range and threats such as the spread of deadly chytrid fungus, water pollution, poaching, and invasive species in the lake. Zoos around the world have successfully bred the frogs in captivity, but more conservation efforts must be made in their natural habitat to prevent this species from going extinct in the wild.

Sources and further reading:
• https://www.zoo-berlin.de/en/species-conservation/worldwide/titicaca-water-frog
• https://amphibiaweb.org/species/2695
• https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Telmatobius_culeus/