Lepidobatrachus llanensis

Lepidobatrachus llanensis (common name: llanos frog;[1][2] in Spanish: escuerzo[1]) is a species of frogs in the family Ceratophryidae. It is found in northern Argentina, western Paraguay, and southern Bolivia.[1][2]

Lepidobatrachus llanensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ceratophryidae
Genus: Lepidobatrachus
Species:
L. llanensis
Binomial name
Lepidobatrachus llanensis
Reig and Cei [es], 1963

Habitat and ecology

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Lepidobatrachus llanensis is an aquatic frog inhabiting dry scrubland and semi-arid areas at elevations below 300 m (980 ft). Breeding takes place in temporary pools and water tanks on cattle farms. During the dry season these frogs burrow underground, only to emerge again after rain.[1] To deal with dry conditions, they form a protective cocoon[1][3] that greatly reduces the loss of water.[3]

Conservation

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Lepidobatrachus llanensis is an uncommon frog living in isolated populations. It is threatened by habitat loss caused by expanding agriculture, wood extraction, and pollution. It occurs in a number of protected areas in Argentina and Paraguay.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2021). "Lepidobatrachus llanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T57112A101428639. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T57112A101428639.en. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2023). "Lepidobatrachus llanensis Reig and Cei, 1963". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b McClanahan, Lon L.; Shoemaker, Vaughan H. & Ruibal, Rodolfo (1976). "Structure and function of the cocoon of a ceratophryd frog". Copeia. 1976 (1): 179–185. doi:10.2307/1443788. JSTOR 1443788.