Hensel’s Swamp Frog

Fascinating facts about the Hensel’s Swamp Frog

• Males measure 13.5–16.0 mm in snout–vent length and the species occurs in the Pampas of northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.
• Females measure 14.7–18.1 mm and both sexes show extensive variation in dorsal coloration and morphology.
• Genetic studies reveal two major lineages, one in Argentina and Uruguay, the other in Brazil, that split about 1 million years ago, yet they re-merged roughly 260 000 years ago, mixing their DNA again. This long-ago separation and recent reunion illustrate how landscape continuity can stitch together once-isolated populations.
• Despite being a small frog, it shows surprisingly high genetic diversity without sharp regional differences, likely because the uniform Pampean grasslands and passive water-driven seed-like dispersal (hydrochory) keep the gene pool well mixed. It proves that a homogeneous habitat can still nurture rich genetic variation.
• Scientists have found these frogs from sea level up to 1,000 m (3,281 ft) and in places ranging from untouched national parks to rice fields, showing they flourish in both pristine and heavily altered landscapes. Their adaptability signals that some amphibians can weather human change better than many of their relatives.

At a glance

About the Hensel’s Swamp Frog

Hensel’s swamp frog, Pseudopaludicola falcipes, is a diminutive Leptodactylid with males measuring 13.5–16.0 mm and females 14.7–18.1 mm in snout-vent length. It shows extensive variation in dorsal coloration. It inhabits the Pampas grasslands and rice plantations, breeding in temporary pools and ditches, and can disperse passively via hydrochory, which helps maintain genetic cohesion across Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

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