Telmatobius

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. All species are closely associated with water and some are entirely aquatic. It contains more than 50 species; the vast majority seriously threatened, especially from habitat loss, pollution, diseases (chytridiomycosis and nematode infections) and capture for human consumption. The huge Titicaca Water Frog (T. culeus), made famous by Jacques Cousteau, also faces these risks. 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.