Range

This species is confined to Lake Titicaca and some neighboring water courses. This lake is located on the border between Peru and Bolivia.

Habitat

This species is entirely aquatic and spends its life under the water. They are mostly seen in muddy or sandy areas near rocks and vegetation.

The lake is thermally stable which is useful for ectothermic animals such as frogs.

Reproduction

Breeding can take place year round but mating has only been observed from May to November.

Their clutch size is highly variable from 100 to 900 eggs. These are deposited as groups of 20-50 on aquatic plants. Eggs are fertilized externally. Breeding occurs in shallow water along the shore of the lake.

Their larva will metamorphose in four months. Younger animals tend to live in shallower waters until they undergo this metamorphosis.

Sexual maturity is reached around five years old.

Behavior

Lake Titicaca water frogs are solitary and only come together to mate.

This species is primarily nocturnal emerging at night to hunt.

Most of their time is spent underwater and they only come to the surface if oxygen saturation is low. To help push more water across their skin folds to help respiration they will perform a motion which looks like a “push-up.”

Predators and Threats

No information exists on the natural predators of the Lake Titicaca water frog.

Introduced species such as the trout feed on the larvae.

Their two-toned coloration helps to camouflage this species both from above and below. If captured they will secrete a sticky, milky substance from their body. This has an offensive taste helping to stop predators eating them.

In Peru these frogs are captured for use in frog juice which is a traditional tonic that is most often used as an aphrodisiac though it has at times been claimed as a cure for many diseases. They are also used for food and sold in to the pet trade.

Another major threat has been pollution. Mass die offs have become an almost yearly occurrence as a result of garbage flowing in to the river.

They have been threatened through the presence of fungus. This is especially detrimental as they exchange gas through their skin.

It is thought that over the last 15 years the number of Lake Titicaca water frogs has decreased by over 80%.

Quick facts

This frog has earned the unfortunate nickname of “scrotum frog” which comes from the folds of skin across their body.