#rhinoderma darwinii

More than 30 endangered froglets have been born at London Zoo after a dramatic 7,000-mile rescue mission saw their parents extracted from their fungus-threatened native habitat. The Darwin’s frog, named after Charles Darwin, faces extinction after the introduction of the chytrid fungus to their habitat. In 2023, surveys confirmed the deadly fungus had arrived in the remote Parque Tantauco forests in southern Chile – leading to a catastrophic 90% decline in monitored populations within a year. While conservationists work out how to make their forest home safe, the survival of the Darwin’s frog could depend on safe refuges like the one London Zoo has provided.

today's funky frog of the day: darwin's frog (Rhinoderma darwinii)!!!!! these delightfully pointy beings live in chile and argentina. fun fact: the tadpoles of this frog develop in the vocal sac of the male!

NEWS IN CONSERVATION: DARWIN’S FROGS ARE BEING SUCCESSFULLY BRED IN CAPTIVITY

Darwin's frogs (Rhinoderma darwinii) are native to the forests of Chile and Argentina, which are home to a high number of endemic plant and animal species such as the Patagonian toad and chinchillas. But these small frogs rather are endangered thanks to habitat destruction and a fungus deadly to amphibians known as Chytrid fungus.   

Now Darwin’s frogs, and researchers have new hope: in more than eigth years, a ex situ breeding project, leaded by Juan Carlos Ortiz, chilean zoologist, has succefully breed 200 individuals. The joint effort of the Universidad de Concepción and Leipzig Zoo is focused on preserving this amazing frog within it’s range country. Despite the number is not high, it show the potencial to breed them in captivity, who is a real deal. The ex situ project has also discovered that Darwin’s frogs live for at least, 20 years, reaching sexual maturity at 5 yeas.

One of the difficulties of the Darwin's frog ex situ breeding proyect, is its remarkable reproductive biology. Female lays her eggs, which are then guarded by the male for about 2 weeks. Once hatched, the male Darwin's frog carries the developing tadpoles in a pouch in his throat until they are fully developed and able to hop away.

The reintroduction of the captivity darwin’s frog is previste to be realized in two years more, but it should be done with caution. Frogs must carry a similar genetic pool to avoid loose of local genetic population and must be free of pathogens and viruses.

Photo: One of the first Chilean Darwin's Frogs born in captivity in Concepcion, in southern Chile. December 2009.

ANFIBIOS ENTRE LAS ESPECIES MÁS AMENAZADAS EN CHILE

Así lo señala el resultados del proceso de Clasificación de Especies del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (MMA), entidad que ha analizado 1.147 especies nativas, de las que 39 animales endémicos están En Peligro Crítico.

De los 61 anfibios que ya han pasado por el proceso de clasificación de la cartera medioambiental del Gobierno, el 70% está amenazado. En los reptiles, el 35% de las 100 especies conocidas está en esa situación y en los peces continentales, casi el 83% está bajo alguna categoría de riesgo. “Coincidentemente peces y anfibios comparten ambientes acuáticos, justamente ecosistemas que están bastante alterados y presionados, por la extracción de agua, represamiento o contaminación”, dice Charif Tala, jefe del departamento de Conservación de Especies del MMA.   

Anfibios, moluscos, insectos, reptiles y un pez componen la lista de los 39 animales En Peligro Crítico, según el proceso chileno. Su actual clasificación se debe a que su población se ha reducido considerablemente en un breve periodo de tiempo y esa tendencia continuará si se dan las siguientes condiciones: la reducción en tamaño poblacional o área de distribución es extrema; su territorio está severamente fragmentado; o sólo existe en un lugar

Foto: Rana de Darwin, uno de los anfibios iconos chilenos, cortesía UdeC