The poorly known Telmatobius montanus was rediscovered in the high Andean mountains between Mendoza and Talca on the Argentinian- Chilean frontier. Morphological characters of the adults and tadpoles are described. There is convergence in male secondary sex characters toward the leptodactylid frogs of the genus Eupsophus (nodosus group).Material digitalizado en SEDICI gracias a la colaboración del Dr. Jorge Williams (FCNM-UNLP).Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Cei, José Miguel Alfredo María

Roig, V. G.

English

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Made in United States of America
Reprinted from Copeia, 1965, No. 4, December 31 
pp. 421-425
The Systematic Status and Biology of Telmatobius montanus 
Lataste (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae)
J. M. Cei and V. G. Roig
BIBLIOTECA
JORGE D. WILLIAMS
The Systematic Status and Biology of Telmatobius montanus 
Lataste (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae)
J. M. Cei and V. G. Roig
The poorly known Telmatobius montanus was rediscovered in the high 
Andean mountains between Mendoza and Talca on the Argentinian- 
Chilean frontier. Morphological characters of the adults and tadpoles 
are described. There is convergence in male secondary sex characters 
toward the leptodactylid frogs of the genus Eupsophus (nodosus group).
Introduction
THE species Telmatobius montanus La-taste (in Philippi) is known from 1 
poorly preserved specimen. Four of the origi­
nal 5 syntypes were lost, and the male speci­
men from the Central Chilean Cordillera 
(Potrero Grande, Santiago) described by 
Müller (1938) was destroyed in World War 
II (Cei 1962). According to Müller (1938), 
the geographic range of T. montanus extends 
from 32° 30' to 34°20' south latitude. This 
peculiar Chilean frog inhabits small, high 
Andean pools and streams. While examining 
the cordilleran biocenosis in the Mendoza 
Mountains on the Argentinian-Chilean fron­
tier, 80 km west of Bardas Blancas, Malargue, 
in March 1964, we found some frogs and 
tadpoles referable to T. montanus. The 
present paper gives a new detailed descrip­
tion of adults of both sexes, a description of 
the tadpoles, and remarks on the biology of 
this species.
We thank Dr. W. E. Duellman of the 
Museum of Natural History, University of 
Kansas, for his kindness in reading the manu­
script and for his help in putting it in En­
glish.
Telmatobius montanus Lataste 
(in Philippi 1902) 
Type-locality.—Lakes of the Andean region 
of Santiago, Chile.
Lectotype.—A syntype, CNHM 9979 (fe­
male) .x
Distribution.—On the basis of our records, 
the species occurs at elevations above 2,000 
m in the Andean region between 3O°3O' and 
36°00' south latitude. Specimens examined: 
15 km from Argentinian frontier, 2,400 m, 
facing Maule Lake, Talca, Chile, IBM-UNC 
16461, 10 specimens; 3 km from Chilean 
frontier, 2,500 m near the international road 
to Talca, Malargue, Mendoza, Argentina, 
IBM-UNC 1639-41, 1643 (tadpoles).
Diagnosis.—A stout, moderate-sized species of 
Telmatobius differing from other known spe­
cies by its external secondary sexual char­
acters.
Description of adults.—Measurements of 5 
males and 6 females, respectively (mean and 
observed range in mm) : snout-vent length 
55.6 (52-58), 56.6 (52-65) ; head length 15.1 
(14-16), 15.4 (14-17); head width 17.7 (17- 
18.5), 17.5 (16-19) ; interorbital distance 4.1 
(4-4.5), 3.9 (3.2-5) ; width of eyelid 4.6 (4.2- 
5), 4.7 (4.2-5.8) ; internarial distance 3.7 
(3.5-4), 3.6 (3.2-4); diameter of eye 5.2 
(4.5-6), 5.6 (5-6) ; length of femur 27.9 
(25.5-29.5), 27.7 (26-30) ; length of tibia 
28.5 (26.5-30), 28.1 (26-30); length of foot
1 Chicago Natural History Museum (CNHM); In­
stitute Biologia, Mendoza, Universidad Nacional de 
Cuyo (IBM-UNC).
422 COPEIA, 1965, NO. 4
Fig. 1. Telmatobius montanus: male (right) and female (left) . Slightly reduced.
43.4 (40-45), 42 (38-45). Head as wide as 
body, less than one-third length of body; 
snout rounded, slightly protruding beyond 
lower jaw; canthus distinct; nostrils lateral, 
nearer snout than eyes; diameter of eye 
greater than its distance from nostril; inter­
orbital distance narrower than eyelid, greater 
than internarial distance (Fig. 1) . Maxillary 
teeth present; vomerine teeth in 2 rounded 
oblique patches between upper borders of 
choanae; tympanum indistinct under folds of 
skin; dermal fold from upper eyelid down­
ward behind tympanum; tongue elliptical, 
free posteriorly. Forearm stout, long, es­
pecially in males; when carried backward, 
forearm crosses groin; outer palmar tubercle 
large, flat, somewhat larger than inner; sub- 
articular tubercles evident, one on base of 
each finger; length of fingers from shortest 
to longest 1-2-4-3. Hind limb slender; when 
carried forward tibiotarsal articulation ex­
tending to eye in both sexes; in adpressed 
hind limbs heels not overlapping; inner 
metatarsal tubercle elliptical, outer conical, 
small; subarticular tubercles conical; length 
of toes from shortest to longest 1-2-5-3-4; 
toes fully webbed; tarsal fold present. Skin 
tuberculate and granular above, less so be­
low; strong tubercles in tympanic region; 
supratympanic fold strong; dermal folds 
present laterally in males.
CEI AND IMJIG—TELMATOBIUS MONTANUS 423
Fig. 2. Nuptial thumb pads of Telmatobius 
montanus male. Enlarged.
Secondary sex characters in males.—Forearm 
stouter than in females, with marked dark 
spiny pads on the first finger and narrow 
band of spiny warts on the second finger; 
bilateral circular spiny areas of conical pig­
mented tubercles on the chest; scattered spiny 
warts on the forearms and upper lip; skin 
more granular and folded (Figs. 2, 3).
Maximum height in millimeters of the 
spiny pads in 4 males: mean, 1.6 (1.5-1.9) ; 
maximum height of the isolated spiny warts: 
0.9 (0.8-1.0). Diameter of the circular spiny 
areas on the chest: 5.65 (5.4-6.0).
Coloration— In life, dorsum greenish brown 
in males with scattered indistinct yellowish 
spots; belly creamy white and bluish white, 
darker with purplish tint on inferior surfaces 
of limbs; bilateral circular spiny areas on 
chest reddish brown. Dorsum brown mottled 
with small and diluted yellow irregular spots 
in females; an irregular narrow yellow inter­
orbital bar; venter creamy white with indis­
tinct reticulated dark spots posteriorly on 
throat and inferior surfaces of legs. In alco­
hol, dorsum brown with small irregular 
yellow spots, less evident or indistinct in 
males; belly cream color, with faint gray or 
brown reticulations more evident in females; 
white warts in anal region in both sexes.
Pectoral girdle (Fig. 4) Omosternum carti­
laginous with short stem and dilated tip; 
sternum cartilaginous, expanded posteriorly, 
slightly emarginate, shorter than the epicora­
coids, and twice length of omosternum.
Tadpoles (Figs. 5-6) .—The following de­
scription is based on IBM-UNC 1639, 10 
specimens (21-29 mm) without hind limb 
buds; IBM-UNC 1640, 10 specimens (50-
Fig. 3. Horny circular spiny areas on the chest 
of male specimens of Telmatobius montanus. 
Enlarged.
62 mm) with small hind limb buds; IBM- 
UNC 1641, 3 specimens (66-71 mm) with 
hind legs well developed and larval mouth­
parts still present.
Body and head less than twice as long as 
wide; head not wider than body, large, some­
what depressed; ventral profile convex, with 
pronounced abdominal bulge; snout rounded; 
eyes small, dorsal; interorbital distance less
Fig. 4. Shoulder girdle of Telmatobius mon- 
tanus. X 5.
424 COPETA, 1965, NO. 4
Fig. 5. Mouthparts of tadpoles of Telmatobius 
montanus: A, 21 mm larva, X 6; B, 57 mm 
larva, X 4.
than distance of eye from tip of snout; inter- 
narial distance greater than interorbital, but 
less than distance between nostril and eye; 
nostril nearer to eye than to tip of snout; 
spiracle sinistral, opening laterally nearer 
to ventral base of tail than to tip of snout; 
spiracular tube inconspicuous; anus dextral. 
Caudal musculature strong, longer than head 
and body; fins well developed above and 
below, low near body, higher posteriorly; tip 
of tail rounded; dorsal and ventral fins ex­
tending onto body; skin lubricous, very 
pigmented, velvety surface. Width of mouth 
somewhat greater than distance between 
eyes; lips thickened, protruding laterally, 
strongly infolded, edges bordered by marginal 
papillae of various sizes; upper lip thick, 
prominent; tooth rows 2/3, upper rows about 
equal in length, longer than upper beak; 
second upper row and first lower row di­
vided; other rows continuous; third lower 
row shorter than second; horny brown-black 
beak serrated.
Color (in life and in 5% formalin) : vel­
vety black dorsally with some small and 
diffuse golden yellow spots on flanks and 
belly; tail transparent but marked with 
many irregular dark brown spots, especially 
on dorsal fin and on tip of tail.
Remarks.—This species lives at elevations be­
tween 2,000 and 2,500 m in the Andean 
Cordillera. We obtained adult specimens 
from small, steep stony streams that are 
warmed by midday sun. All streams are 
close to permanent snow. The adults stay in 
deep horizontal holes somewhat circular in 
shape and about 10-12 cm in diameter, and 
located under the water level at the borders 
of the streams. The burrowing capacity of 
these aquatic, soft-skinned frogs is astonishing 
if they are, as is probable, the builders of 
such holes, some 1.5 m deep. They likely 
take shelter in them during the long period 
of hibernation of 5 or 6 months.
Fig. 6. Lateral view of 57 mm tadpole of 
Telmatobius montanus. X 1.
On the Argentinian slope we found speci­
mens in a natural sulfur spring. There the 
frogs were swimming freely in deep rocky 
pools or in pits in the spring; sometimes they 
were hidden in holes on the borders of the 
spring. Tadpoles in all stages were observed 
swimming slowly or resting on the bottom 
of the largest pools. Probably mating and 
egg deposition occur repeatedly during the 
summer season. All males had well-developed 
secondary sexual characters at the time of 
the capture. Under stress, the males in cap­
tivity quickly lose the spiny, pigmented, 
horny areas on the chest, but they are also 
able to produce them again in some 12 to 14 
hr. The strong, horny thumb spines are 
more resistant to the effects of captivity stress.
The call of these frogs is deep, but weak, 
and can be described as a low croak. The 
frogs call irregularly from under water by 
day.
The remarkable sexual characters of T. 
montanus indicate a special position in com­
parison with the other representatives of 
the Telmatobiinae. None of the known 
Telmatobius shows the symmetrical circular 
spiny area on the chest and the size of the 
strong, dark, spiny thumb pad described for 
T. montanus. According to Schmidt (1928, 
1954) and Vellard (1951, 1953, 1955) and 
by personal observations, spines of such a 
size and structure are not present in the 
jelskii, marmoratus, culeus, crawfordi, and 
albiventris groups, and also are lacking in 
peruvianus, simonsi, halli, hauthali, latiros- 
tris, brevipes, intermedins, and atacamensis. 
They have not been reported for niger, 
cinereus, or ignavus. All the known species of 
Telmatobius show smaller thumb spinules 
and the general structure of their pads is 
very different.
A striking similarity exists between the 
thumb pad ornamentation and circular spiny 
chest area of T. montanus and those reported 
for the leptodactylid frogs of the genus 
Eupsophus (nodosus group). Eupsophus 
probably is a primitive leptodactylid line, 
and its great antiquity as a member of the 
CEI AND ROIG—TELMATOBIUS MONTANUS 425
oldest Tertiary Patagonian fauna (Schaeffer 
1949) supports such an ancestral position. 
The convergence of the secondary sexual 
characters of Telmatobius montanus to a 
Eupsophus-like condition, in evident contrast 
with the other 46 known species of Telmato­
bius, seems to indicate at least its great 
phyletic independence and perhaps warrants 
a subgeneric position. We can remember 
that Lutz (1930) proposed a subgeneric ar­
rangement for Leptodactylus fundamentally 
based on the general morphology of the 
secondary sexual characters.
Literature Cited
Cei, J. M. 1962. Batracios de Chile. Ed. Univ. 
Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Lutz, A. 1930. Observacoes sobre batrachios 
brasileiros. Segunda memoria sobre especies 
brasileiras do genero Leptodactylus incluindo 
outras aliadas. Mem. Inst. O. Cruz. 23 (1) : 1—34.
Müller, L. 1938. Beiträge sur Kenntnis der 
Herpetofauna Chiles. X. Über ein exemplar 
Telmatobius montanus Philippi. Zool. Anz. 
121:313-317.
Philippi, R. A. 1902. Suplemento a los batra- 
quios chilenos descritos en la Historia Física 
y Política de Chile de Don Claudio Gay. 
Santiago, Chile.
Schaeffer, B. 1949. Anurans from the early 
Tertiary of Patagonia. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. 
Hist. 93 (2) :47-68.
Schmidt, K. P. 1928. The Chilean frogs of the 
genus Telmatobius. Rev. Chil. Hist. Nat. 32: 
98-105.
-------- . 1954. Notes on frogs of the genus 
Telmatobius with description of two new 
Peruvian species. Fieldiana, Zoology 34 (26) : 
277-287.
Vellard, J. 1951. Estudios sobre batracios an­
dinos. I. El grupo Telmatobius y formas afines. 
Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Jav. Prado 1:1-90.
-------- . 1953. Estudios sobre batracios andinos.
II. El grupo Marmoratus y formas afines. 
Ibid. 2:1-53.
-------- . 1955. Estudios sobre batracios andinos.
III. Los Telmatobius del grupo Jelskii. Ibid. 
4:1-28.
Instituto de Biología, Universidad Na­
cional de Cuyo, Facultad de Ciencias 
Médicas, Mendoza, Argentina.


The Systematic Status and Biology of Telmatobius montanus Lataste (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae)

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The Systematic Status and Biology of Telmatobius montanus Lataste (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae)

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