The Titicaca water frog is very large and entirely aquatic and makes its home in the high-altitude rivers that flow into Andean lake for which it is named.

In addition to being named a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the frog, according to the Associated Press, is also believed by some Peruvians and Bolivians to be a cure for human maladies as wide ranging and seemingly unrelated as asthma, osteoporosis, fatigue and a low libido.

So say some Peruvians who make a habit of turning the amphibians into "juice."

"I always come to drink frog juice here because it's good for the children," Cecilia Cahuana told the AP at a frog-juice bar in Lima. "For anemia, bronchitis and also good for older persons."

If you've never, ever wanted to see the words "frog" and "juice" blended together in a single, stomach-churning phrase, we can assure you that you're not alone. And if drinking an endangered species wasn't enough, here's another reason you might want to pass the next time someone (most likely a Peruvian someone) offers you a glass of frothy green goo.

"There is no scientific evidence confirming any medicinal benefits from frog juice," according to the AP.

Tomy Villanueva, dean of the Medical College of Lima, told the AP that "the frog juice has not met the standards of the FDA to be mentioned as medicine."

Still, if you'd really like to try some for yourself, here's a how-to via the AP.

(washinton post)