Lepidobatrachus
Encyclopedia
Lepidobatrachus is a genus
of leptodactylid
frog
s. They are commonly (and collectively) referred to as Budgett's frogs, in honor of the scientist who described the genus.
, in the countries of Paraguay
, Argentina
, and Bolivia
.
in color, sometimes with lighter green or yellow
mottling. They are capable of growing to an adult size of 4 to 5 in (10.2 to 12.7 cm). They have a rounded, flattened body with eye
s set high on their head, giving them a blob-like appearance. They have short limbs, which do not make them particularly efficient swimmers. They do not have teeth, but they do have two sharp protrusions inside their large mouth
which serve the same purpose.
This frog is also known as the "Freddy Krueger
" frog, because when frightened, it will open its disproportionately large mouth and emit a grunt or a shrill scream. It has even been known to bite when cornered by a human or predator. The Budgett's frog is aquatic, and spends much of its time in streams, ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow moving rivers. It is camouflaged to look like a smooth river pebble.
keeper. However, Budgett's frogs do not do well in captivity and usually aren't happy in captivity.
:
Genus Lepidobatrachus (Budgett, 1899)
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of leptodactylid
Leptodactylidae
Leptodactylidae is a diverse family of frogs that probably diverged from other hyloids during the Cenozoic era, or possibly at the end of the Mesozoic. There are roughly 50 genera, one of which is Eleutherodactylus, the largest vertebrate genus, with over 700 species...
frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s. They are commonly (and collectively) referred to as Budgett's frogs, in honor of the scientist who described the genus.
Geographic range
Budgett's frogs are found in South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, in the countries of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
Description
Lepidobatrachus frogs are generally a light, olive greenGreen
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
in color, sometimes with lighter green or yellow
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
mottling. They are capable of growing to an adult size of 4 to 5 in (10.2 to 12.7 cm). They have a rounded, flattened body with eye
Eye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
s set high on their head, giving them a blob-like appearance. They have short limbs, which do not make them particularly efficient swimmers. They do not have teeth, but they do have two sharp protrusions inside their large mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
which serve the same purpose.
Behaviour and diet
Budgett's frogs are highly intelligent but aggressive creatures. The two sharp protrusions in their mouth allow them to attack both prey and predator alike.This frog is also known as the "Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger
Frederick Charles "Freddy" Krueger is a fictional, horrifying character from the Nightmare on Elm Street series of horror films. He first appears in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street as a disfigured dream stalker who uses a glove armed with razors to kill his victims in their dreams,...
" frog, because when frightened, it will open its disproportionately large mouth and emit a grunt or a shrill scream. It has even been known to bite when cornered by a human or predator. The Budgett's frog is aquatic, and spends much of its time in streams, ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow moving rivers. It is camouflaged to look like a smooth river pebble.
In captivity
Due to habitat destruction, the Budgett's frog is on the verge of being listed as a threatened species http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=57110, but they are becoming more common at reptile trade shows. Budgett's frogs are very rare to find in a traditional chain pet shop. The most commonly available species is L. laevis. Due to their comical appearance, they tend to make an attractive option for the intermediate to advanced amphibianAmphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
keeper. However, Budgett's frogs do not do well in captivity and usually aren't happy in captivity.
Species
There are three different speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
:
Genus Lepidobatrachus (Budgett, 1899)
| Binomial Name and Author | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Lepidobatrachus asper | |
| Lepidobatrachus laevis Lepidobatrachus laevis The escuerzo, Budgett's Frog or wide-mouth frog is a species of frog in the Leptodactylidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.... |
|
| Lepidobatrachus llanensis Lepidobatrachus llanensis The Escuerzo is a species of frog in the Leptodactylidae family.It is found in Argentina, Paraguay, and possibly Bolivia.... |
|