The Titicaca water frog is considered to be the largest aquatic frog in the world with some individuals reaching up to 13 cm in length. This frog has a large flat head with a round snout, and prominent skin folds. The lungs of this frog are greatly reduced and are less than one-third the size that would be expected of other frog species of the same body size.
The Titicaca frog respires primarily through its skin and has many large vascularized skin folds on the upper side of its body, sides and hind limbs. The skin folds essentially serve as gills for these frogs.
Lake Titicaca, where these frogs are found, is around 3,812 m above sea level and therefore really quite cold with the water temperature of the lake averaging at around 10°C. Living in such a cold environment has likely contributed to this species having the lowest recorded metabolic rate of any frog.

IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered.
Listed as Critically Endangered because of a serious population decline, estimated to be more than 80% over the last three generations, due to over-exploitation, habitat degradation, and invasive species.