Lake Titicaca frog

Named after the lake where you would naturally find them, these huge frogs are the world’s largest aquatic frog.

One of the things that makes the Lake Titicaca frog so unique is that unlike many creatures with lungs they will spend their entire lives underwater. They manage this by using the large amount of skin folds that cover their bodies. These skin folds allow the frogs to respire in the cold oxygen-rich waters of the lake. Although it looks like they’re working out, the ‘push up’ like motion these frogs are regularly seen doing is to allow more water to pass through their folds, increasing the oxygen absorption when needed.

Their olive, dark green and black coloured skin helps protect them against predators. This combination of colours acts as camouflage for the frogs from predators both above and below them. If they get captured by a predator, they will secrete a sticky, milky fluid from their bodies. This has a horrible taste which stops predators from eating them.