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.
More info UdeC (In spanish)
