Chile has launched a new initiative to protect one of its most remarkable yet endangered species: Darwin’s frog. This tiny amphibian, barely three centimeters long, is best known for its extraordinary breeding method, where males carry developing tadpoles in pouches within their mouths until they emerge as fully formed froglets.
The program, led by Chile’s climate change and sustainability committee, focuses on safeguarding habitats and reproductive areas. Collaboration with private landowners is a central part of the effort, as expanding the frog’s range and discovering new populations remain critical to reversing its decline.
Originally believed to be a single species, Darwin’s frog is now known to consist of two: Rhinoderma darwinii (the endangered Southern Darwin’s frog) and Rhinoderma rufum (the Northern Darwin’s frog), which is critically endangered and thought to be on the verge of disappearing. First documented by Charles Darwin in 1834 during his journey through Chile’s southern Chiloé islands, the frog is both a scientific treasure and a symbol of the region’s fragile ecosystems.
Yet, the threats facing Darwin’s frog are severe. Forest fragmentation, climate change, invasive species, urbanization, and recurrent forest fires have devastated its humid forest habitat across Chile and Argentina. Monitoring began only recently, after a dramatic decline left just 62 populations identified across both countries.
Conservation advocates see this new plan as a vital chance to raise awareness. As Andres Valenzuela, director of NGO Ranita de Darwin, expressed, the hope is that Chileans will come to value the unique species that inhabit their native forests and support efforts to protect them.
The story of Darwin’s frog is a reminder that biodiversity conservation requires both local action and national commitment. By addressing habitat loss and engaging communities, Chile’s initiative offers renewed hope that this extraordinary amphibian can survive for future generations.
