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.[1] It is the only genus in the family Telmatobiidae.[2] Some sources recognize Batrachophrynus as a valid genus distinct from Telmatobius.[3][4]
All Telmatobius species are closely associated with water and most species are semi-aquatic, while a few are entirely aquatic.[5] They are found in and near lakes, rivers and wetlands in the Andean highlands at altitudes between 1,000 and 5,200 m (3,300–17,100 ft).[6] The genus includes two of the world's largest fully aquatic frogs, the Lake Junin frog (T. macrostomus) and Titicaca water frog (T. culeus),[7] but the remaining are considerably smaller. Telmatobius contains more than 60 species; the vast majority seriously threatened, especially from habitat loss, pollution, diseases (chytridiomycosis and nematode infections), introduced trout, and capture for human consumption.[5][8]
The three Ecuadorian species have not been seen for years and may already be extinct: T. cirrhacelis last seen in 1981, T. niger in 1994 and T. vellardi in 1987.[5][8] Similarly, seven of the fifteen species in Bolivia have not been seen for years.[9] However, some might still be rediscovered: the Bolivian T. yuracare had not been seen in the wild in a decade and there was only a single captive male. A few wild individuals were located in 2019, thus ending the captive male's informal status as an endling (last survivor of the species).[9]
There are currently 63 species recognized in the genus Telmatobius,[1] but the validity of some species is questionable and it is likely that undescribed species remain.[10][11]