description Darwin's Frog Overview
Darwin's frog (Rhinoderma darwinii) is a small, leaf-like amphibian native to the temperate forests of southern Chile and Argentina. It is named after Charles Darwin, who encountered the species during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. The frog is particularly noted for its unique reproductive strategy, where males absorb, brood, and develop their tadpoles inside their vocal sacs.
insights Ranking position
Darwin's Frog ranks #23 of 213 in the Amphibian ranking, behind Hellbender, ahead of Vietnamese Mossy Frog.
help Darwin's Frog FAQ
How does a male Darwin's frog carry its young?
After the eggs begin developing, the male takes the embryos into his vocal sac. The young complete much of their development there before emerging as tiny froglets, an unusual reproductive system called neomelia.
Where does Darwin's frog live in the wild?
Rhinoderma darwinii inhabits cool, moist temperate forests in southern Chile and neighboring Argentina. It depends on leaf litter, small streams and intact forest conditions.
Is Darwin's frog the species Charles Darwin discovered?
Charles Darwin collected the frog during the voyage of HMS Beagle in the 1830s, and the species was later named Rhinoderma darwinii in his honor. Darwin was the collector associated with it, not the author of its current scientific name.
What happened to the northern Darwin's frog?
The northern Darwin's frog, Rhinoderma rufum, has not been reliably observed for decades and is classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct. It is distinct from Rhinoderma darwinii, the southern species still known from Chile and Argentina.
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