Photo credit: Pete Oxford
The Titicaca Water Frog, Telmatobius culeus, is listed as ‘CRITICALLY ENDANGERED’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It is found in Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia. It is the largest aquatic frog, spending its entire life underwater (it is thought to breathe through its loose-fitting skin).
The number of Titicaca Water Frogs has declined dramatically in recent years as a result of harvesting for human consumption, degradation of its habitat, and the extraction of water from the lake. The predation of larvae by introduced trout species is also thought to be a problem.
Habitat management and protection is present at the Lake Titicaca Reserve but further action and better enforcement is desperately needed. Whilst captive-breeding programmes have taken place, they have so far been unsuccessful.
Geographic Range of the Titicaca Water Frog
Credit: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
To learn more about the Titicaca Water Frog, click here. Or visit the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ by clicking their logo below.
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