Description
Phrynopus thompsoni is a moderately large Phrynopus (maximum SVL reached for females is 27.6, males of this species are unknown). Skin on dorsum is pustular; ventral side is coarsely areolate. First and second fingers are equal in length. Toes lack basal webbing but have lateral fringes; there are two metatarsal tubercles, with the inner slightly larger than the outer. The tarsus lacks tubercles and folds. Tympanic membrane and annulus, columella, and cavum tympanicum absent. Snout is acutely rounded in dorsal view and bluntly rounded laterally. Canthus rostralis is rounded. Interorbital distance ranges from 80.8-83.3% width of upper eyelid. Vomerine teeth are absent. Toes III and IV are equal. In preservative, specimens were dull brown dorsally with or without diffuse darker brown markings associated with pustules. There were no distinct bars on the limbs. Posterior surfaces of thighs tan with few small, irregular, brown spots. Color in life is unknown.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Peru

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

P. thompsoni is only known from its type locality in the upper Rio Moche (Pacific) drainage in northern Peru.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
The frogs were found under granite boulders in a grassy meadow just below the puna.

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss

References

Duellman, W. E. (2000). ''Leptodactylid frogs of the genus Phrynopus in northern Peru with descriptions of three new species.'' Herpetologica, 56(3), 273-285.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2004 Phrynopus thompsoni <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/6294> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Jan 1, 2025.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2025. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 1 Jan 2025.

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