Reproduction

Breeding can occur year round with a peak from November to March. Males will attract the female using a bell-like call.

The female deposits up to 40 large eggs in each clutch on to moist soil. After the eggs are laid the male performs much of the parental care. This begins with him defending the eggs.

These frogs have a unique breeding method. Instead of developing in the water the hatching eggs are gathered in the male's mouth where the tadpoles will develop in his vocal sac.

During this developmental stage while the tadpoles are in the vocal sac they live solely off their own egg yolk.

When they finish their development they metamorphose and emerge from the father's mouth. It takes around six weeks to reach metamorphosis.

Behavior

These frogs are active during the day. When resting they shelter under logs or moss.

Outside of the breeding season Darwin's frog is considered to be a solitary species.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of this frog include rodents, snakes and birds.

When threatened the Darwin's frog will freeze as if they are dead. They appear like a leaf which may also provide camouflage.

The biggest threat to Darwin's frog is chytrid fungus which has emerged in North and South America along with Europe and Australia. It affects the skin of amphibians by stopping them absorbing water or nutrients.

Further threats are presented by forestry and drought. Fires may also present a threat. In parts of their range volcano eruptions may threaten local subpopulations.

Currently the population is declining and they may already be extinct in parts of their range.

Quick facts

In parts of their range Darwin's frog is known as the 'cowboy frog' by locals. The reason for this is not clear, it may come from their call sounding like a whistling cowboy or that the spots on their underside resemble those a cow.

These frogs are named for famed naturalist, Charles Darwin who discovered them on a voyage to Chile in 1834.