{{Short description|Species of amphibian}} {{Speciesbox | image = | status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |date=2020 |title=''Lithobates dunni'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T58588A53970454 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T58588A53970454.en |access-date=17 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Lithobates | species = dunni | authority = (Zweifel, 1957) | synonyms = ''Rana dunni'' <small>Zweifel, 1957</small><ref name="Zweifel 1957"/> | synonyms_ref = <ref name=Frost/> }}
The '''Patzcuaro frog''' ('''''Lithobates dunni''''' or '''''Rana dunni''''') is a species of frog in the family Ranidae.<ref name=Frost/> Within the former, broadly defined genus ''Rana'', it belongs to the ''Rana montezumae'' (=''Lithobates montezumae'') subgroup of the ''Rana pipiens'' (=''Lithobates pipiens'') complex.<ref name=Frost/><ref name="Hillis et al. 1983"/> It is endemic to Michoacán state, Mexico,<ref name=Frost/> where it is locally known as ''rana de Pátzcuaro''.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /> It occurs in Lake Pátzcuaro, Lake Cuitzeo, and the surrounding streams in Río de Morelia.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /><ref name=Frost/>
==Etymology== The specific name ''dunni'' honors Emmett Reid Dunn, a prominent American herpetologist.<ref name="Zweifel 1957"/><ref name="Beolens et al. 2013"/>
==Description== Females grow to at least {{convert|97|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} and males, based on the only adult male in the type series, to {{convert|71|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length. The body is chunky and the limbs are short and thick. The tympanum is distinct; the post-tympanic fold is indistinct. The dorso-lateral folds are weak. The toes are fully webbed and have rounded tips. Skin is dorsally very pustulose. The dorsum is dark grey with few indistinct, asymmetric yellow-gray markings. The head is yellowish-white and has some gray spotting. The ventral surfaces are white, apart from the gray chest and chin. Males have a paired vocal sac.<ref name="Zweifel 1957"/>
==Habitat and conservation== Patzcuaro frog is an aquatic frog living in deep water with abundant nutrients.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" /> Most of the types were collected in shallow water ({{convert|6|-|18|in|m|1|abbr=on|disp=flip}} deep) with abundant vegetation. The diet includes at least snails of the genus ''Physa''. Males call throughout the year.<ref name="Zweifel 1957"/> Reproduction takes place in the streams.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" />
A major threat to this species is harvesting—it is considered delicious by local people. Once common, over-exploitation has greatly reduced its abundance. It is not known to occur in any protected area.<ref name="iucn status 17 November 2021" />
==References== {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="Beolens et al. 2013">{{cite book |last1 = Beolens | first1 = Bo | last2 = Watkins | first2 = Michael | last3 = Grayson | first3 = Michael |name-list-style=amp |title=The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QJY3BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA60 |date=2013 |publisher=Pelagic Publishing |isbn=978-1-907807-42-8 |page=60}}</ref>
<ref name=Frost>{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Ranidae/Lithobates/Lithobates-dunni |title=''Lithobates dunni'' (Zweifel, 1957) |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2018 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="Hillis et al. 1983">{{Cite journal |last=Hillis |first=David M. |last2=Frost |first2=John S. |last3=Wright |first3=David A. |name-list-style=amp |date=1983 |title=Phylogeny and biogeography of the ''Rana pipiens'' complex: a biochemical evaluation |jstor=2413277 |journal=Systematic Zoology |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=132–143 |doi=10.2307/2413277}}</ref>
<ref name="Zweifel 1957">{{Cite journal |last=Zweifel |first=Richard G. |date=1957 |title=A new frog of the genus ''Rana'' from Michoacán, Mexico |jstor=1439391 |journal=Copeia |volume=1957 |issue=2 |pages=78–83|doi=10.2307/1439391}}</ref> }}
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Category:Lithobates Category:Fauna of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Category:Endemic amphibians of Mexico Category:Amphibians described in 1957 Category:Taxa named by Richard G. Zweifel Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot