A group of international scientists are joining forces to save an unusual endangered species -- the so-called "scrotum frog."

The frogs -- whose scientific name is Telmatobius culeus -- primarily live near Lake Titicaca, which straddles more than 3,200 square miles across the border of Peru and Bolivia, over 3,779 meters (12,400 feet) above sea level.

They're the world's largest entirely acquatic frog, and their loose skin creates folds and flaps -- which earned the species its unfortunate nickname.

The frogs, which can grow up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) long from head to rump, are considered endangered due to over-harvesting for human consumption, invasive trout that feed on its tadpoles, and the destruction of their natural habitat.

It's hard to estimate how many frogs are left, given Lake Titicaca's vast size and the multitude of habitats it contains. But authorities and conservationists around the world have been worried for years about the frogs' decline.

The population fell by 80% from 1994 to 2004, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Since then, the condition of the lake has only worsened, and will likely continue to deteriorate, said IUCN. In some areas of the lake on the Bolivian side, more than 90% of the population may have disappeared.

Now, a number of scientific and wildlife institutions are launching a project to preserve the remaining frogs. Participants include experts in veterinary medicine, biology, and conservation, who hail from Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and the United States.

The project, announced on Sunday by Bolivia's Natural History Museum, will allow researchers to study the frogs' underwater habitats, and evaluate their population status and genetics.

The researchers' data will help authorities to prioritize conservation areas under threat and create conservation policy, said a statement on the region's transboundary Integrated Water Resources Management website.

The project is backed by the Peruvian and Bolivian governments, who have "the same mission: promote the conservation of the Lake Titicaca Giant Frog," said the statement. It's also supported by the United Nations Development Program and the Global Environment Facility.

The frogs are an ecologically important species in Lake Titicaca, also called an "indicator species," meaning it helps authorities measure the health of the ecosystem, and of other species around it.

However, there aren't enough consistent surveys around the lake, and many surveys use different techniques at different times of the year -- meaning it's difficult to accurately measure population sizes and the rate of decline.

Due to this data uncertainty, the IUCN revised the species' threat level to from "critically endangered" to "endangered" in 2019, calling it a "precautionary approach."

The population decline made headlines in 2016, when more than 10,000 of the frogs died suddenly. Nobody knew exactly why they were dying in such large numbers, but authorities noticed sludge and solid waste during an investigation, and local media reported that sewage runoff may have played a role in the deaths.

Denver Zoo specialists worked with Peruvian authorities to investigate the mass die-off. The Denver Zoo, which acquired a small population of the frogs that year, is the only North American institution to have them -- and a year later, the frogs hatched roughly 200 tadpoles at the zoo, the first time Titicaca frogs have ever hatched in North America.

Denver Zoo is among the institutions involved in this new conservation research project.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/28/americas/bolivia-scrotum-frog-intl-hnk-scli-scn/index.html

who frog help

Human beings are the worst beasts walking the face of the earth. We eliminate every other specie for the sole purpose of survival.


To all Nairaland activists who criticize us for eating antelopes who aren't endangered, I hope you guys can criticize oyibo people too

10k frogs?? Eating i guess

The endangered frog still has a colleague in Nigeria that's about to be endangered in the forthcoming election of a state in Nigeria

Na people dey chop this one too

Cool, white scientist busy saving animal's lives while government don't even consider citizens loves here not to talk of animals

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Ok

Why does this frog has a canning resemblance with a popular personality in Nigeria?

Remember, anyone who feeds you or give you a job to feed yourself deserves your SIR and utmost respect.

Still your favorite fabricator guy

philiancoop:
who frog help

i wonder oh

michlins:
Human beings are the worst beasts walking the face of the earth. We eliminate every other specie for the sole purpose of survival.


To all Nairaland activists who criticize us for eating antelopes who aren't endangered, I hope you guys can criticize oyibo people too

Smh. The only annoying thing to me is human eliminating fellow human for survival.

If na only animals dem eliminate for survival, wouldn't it have been better ?

iamyemiakins:
The endangered frog still has a colleague in Nigeria that's about to be endangered in the forthcoming election of a state in Nigeria

There is God o.

Frog kwa

Nothing wey hushpuppy no go see FBI hand o
Which one be scrotum frog again?
Walahi nothing dey finish for this world o.

Nothing NwaAmaikpe nor go see for Nairaland

Akpa amu frog

Una dey safe frog, so we can eat it later in the future. You are all doing well.

Mtvheeeeeeeeeeeeew

jst came to book space

Ok

This white people eehnnnn!!!

If I was not aware that they actually chained and padlock our ancestors and use them for all sort of dehumanizing stuff.... I would have said awwwwwww..... such wonderful people....

h

philiancoop:
who frog help

the ecosystem.

illicit:
Frog kwa

Frog fire!

iamyemiakins:
The endangered frog still has a colleague in Nigeria that's about to be endangered in the forthcoming election of a state in Nigeria