Atelognathus patagonicus

Atelognathus patagonicus
File:Atelognathus patagonicus 64456012.jpg
Atelognathus patagonicus in Neuquén, Argentina
Conservation status
File:Status iucn3.1 CR.svg Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Anura
Family:	Batrachylidae
Genus:	Atelognathus
Species:	A. patagonicus
Binomial name
Atelognathus patagonicus (Gallardo, 1962)
Synonyms
Batrachophrynus patagonicus Gallardo, 1962 Telmatobius patagonicus (Gallardo, 1962)

Atelognathus patagonicus is a species of frog in the family Batrachylidae. It is endemic to the volcanic tablelands of Neuquén Province, western Argentina. Its common name is Patagonia frog. Its natural habitats are permanent lagoons surrounded by steppe and/or semidesert. They are mostly aquatic but can also be found in the vegetation surrounding the lagoons. Breeding takes place in water. The population in the Laguna Blanca (in the Laguna Blanca National Park), which used to be the main subpopulation, has been extirpated by introduced by fish (perch and salmonids). However, other subpopulations, located within the buffer zone of the Laguna Blanca National Park, occur in isolated ponds and mostly appear to be stable. However, eutrophication is a problem in some ponds, and introductions of predatory fish pose a risk to all remaining subpopulations. Also disease are a risk.