Marbled Four Eyed Frog

Pleurodema marmoratum is a moderately large member of the genus (maximum SVL reached is 27.9 mm for males and 31.8 mm for females). The species was formerly known as Phrynopus spectabilis, with the specific epithet spectabilis being Latin for showy, remarkable and notable. This refers to a very unique quality of this species, and that is the incredibly large size of the testes (often taking up to one-third of the body cavity). Skin on dorsum is shagreen while the ventral is smooth. The first finger is longer than the second. Toes lack basal webbing but have lateral fringes. There are two metatarsal tubercles present, with the inner being approximately twice the size of the outer. The tarsus lacks tubercles but bears low folds distally. Dorsal coloration is tan with pattern of large and small dark brown markings. Vetran coloration is tan with or without small brown spots posterolaterally. The head of P. marmoratum is narrower than the body but is slightly wider than long. The snout is acutely rounded in dorsal view while sloping anteroventrally from lateral view. Supratympanic fold moderately heavy,obscuring upper and posterodorsal edges of tympanum. The length of the tympanum is 50-59.3% length of the eye. Vocal slits extend from midlateral base of the tongue toward angle of jaws. Vocal sac is single, median, and subgular. Toes moderately short, unwebbed, bearing narrow lateral fringes; toes III and IV are equal in length. In life the species is a dull green above and bright yellow below.This account was originally for Phrynopus spectabilis which is now a synonym of Pleurodema marmoratum.

Known only from the type locality in the Rio Santa Valley between the Cordillera Negra and the Cordillera Blanca in northern Peru. Frogs were found under stones in a grassy meadow.High elevation tropical environments are experiencing rapid change as a consequence of climate warming, and their glaciers are melting quickly. The ongoing deglaciation is opening up new aquatic habitats for pond-breeding amphibians. Seimon et al. (2017) describe the vertical migration of Pleurodema marmoratum, Rhinella spinulosa and Telmatobius marmoratum to newly deglaciated ponds up to elevations of 5400 m in the Andean Cordillera de Vilcanota of Peru.

Frogs were found under stones in a grassy meadow.

Over the past decade, the newly established anuran populations have endured chytrid epizootics, changes in pond hydrology, and sharp reduction in the abundance of T. marmoratus. Despite these challenges, the three species continue to breed in this system of connected wetlands, and populations of T. marmoratus have recently recovered, possibly because individuals have acquired greater resistance to chytridiomycosis.

Diagnosis A small, elongate frog, with stout legs, head long and rounded, snout not truncate, not protunding on lower jaw; glandular longitudinal ridges; no shovel-like metatarsal tubercles; dorsum speckled with clear irregular spots.

Occurs from central Peru to central Bolivia, northeastern Chile and northwestern Argentina (Jujuy province). It is present at an altitudinal range of 2500-5400 masl

Adult morphology Snout-vent of about 30-35 mm. Head long, ogival almost 1/3 of the body, slighthly wider than large. Snout round, in dorsal and lateral profile. Nostrils supero-laterally located at the same distance between eye and tip of snout. Interocular distance equal to the internarinal interval and to the width of the uppet eyelid, Canthus rostraIis round; loreal region gently sloping up to the upper lip. Maxillary teeth rudimentary; no vomerine teeth. Eye prominent, laterally located. Tongue oval, narrow, entire and free behind. Tympanum small, not evident, about 1/2 of the eye diameter. Supratympanic ridge distinct. Fingers free; rate of the finger lengths: II-IV-I-III. Subarticular and metacarpal tubercles blunt, evident, Toes largely fringed; metatarsal tubercles rounded and weak. Tarsal fold moderate. When hindleg is adpressed, heel reaches the shoulder; when the femurs ,are bent at right angles to body, the tibio-tarsal articulations touch. Skin closely and coarsely glandulous dorsally, smooth on the belly; lower surface of thighs coarsely granular. No lumbar glands present. A rounded at the mouth joint. Coloration: Dorsal ground color creamish, greenish, or brownish, scattered with bright dark brown spots. Dark bands on limbs. Ventrally whitish or immaculate. Larval morphology Tadpoles small and dark, reaching the length of 27-30 mm at the stage 38 (Gosner, 1960), with well-developed hindlimbs, The body is ovoid, slightly depressed, its length being twice the width. The snout is rounded; the mouth broad but small, of about 3 mm in width. The eyes are large, latero-dorsaIly located, being the interocular distance equal to the internarial interval, The nostrils are closer to the eyes than to the end of the snout. The spiracle is sinistral, opening laterally on the posterior half of the body; anal opening medially located, The tail is almost twice large as the body; caudal musculature well-developed, entering onto the dorsal region. Fins high, transparent, superiorly speckled with dark, ending in a pointed tip. Mouth with a simple laterally fold present, bordered by coarse marginal papillae; the median parts of the upper and lower lips are bare. Tooth rows formula: 2(2)/3. Coloration: Dorsal color of the body dark gray; ventrally paler.

LC. Least Concern.

Pleurodema marmoratum is a species of frog in the family Leptodactylidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, rivers, swamps, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, arable land, pastureland, and irrigated land.