; ;

The Mystery of Darwin’s Frog

Darwin’s Frog, Rhinoderma darwinii, is a small frog, about one inch in length, indigenous to southern Chile.  This frog is different from other frogs because of mothering of the male frogs.  A female frog will choose a strong frog with which to mate, lays her eggs and is gone.  The male frog sticks around the eggs to watch over them.  Just when the eggs are about to hatch, he scoops them up into his mouth and keeps them in his vocal sacs  for about two months.  When they have developed into mini-frogs, he opens his mouth and they hop out, about as big as your little fingernail.  These frogs are hard to find because their habitat is being destroyed by development.  They are also masters at camouflage and can hide quite easily.  If they fear being caught, they flip over and play dead.  All in all, Darwin’s frogs are quite unique from other frogs.