The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

ISSN 2307-8235 (online)

IUCN 2008: T19513A8944391

Rhinoderma darwinii, Darwin's Frog

Assessment by: Carmen beda, Alberto Veloso, Herman Nez, Esteban Lavilla

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Carmen beda, Alberto Veloso, Herman Nez, Esteban Lavilla. 2010. Rhinoderma
darwinii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T19513A8944391.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES

Taxonomy
Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Animalia

Chordata

Amphibia

Anura

Cycloramphidae

Taxon Name:Rhinoderma darwinii Dumril & Bibron, 1841

Common Name(s):
English:
Spanish:

Darwin's Frog
Rana Narigona, Ranita De Darwin, Sapito Partero, Sapito Vaquero

Taxonomic Source(s):
Frost, D.R. 2014. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6 (27 January 2014).
New York, USA. Available at: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html. (Accessed: 27
January 2014).

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2ace ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Date Assessed:

November 17, 2008

Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable because of an observed population decline, estimated to be more than 30% over
the last ten years, based on a reduction in area of occupancy, habitat destruction and degradation, and
possibly other unidentified threats.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

2004 Vulnerable (VU)
1996 Data Deficient (DD)
1994 Vulnerable (V)

Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is endemic to the austral forest of Chile and Argentina. Historically, it was distributed in
Chile from Concepcin Province to Palena Province. In Argentina, it is known from Neuqun and Ro
Negro provinces. It has an altitudinal range of 50-1,100 m asl.

Country Occurrence:
Native: Argentina; Chile

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhinoderma darwinii published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

Distribution Map

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhinoderma darwinii published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

Population
Recent surveys within the range of Rhinoderma darwinii in Chile reveal that some populations (including
those in national parks and other preserved areas) have disappeared entirely (M. Crump and A. Veloso
pers. comm.). In other areas, the density of frogs is much lower than 10 or 20 years ago (M. Crump pers.
comm.). Forestry operations have destroyed large areas where northern populations were found.
However, it was still abundant in at least some southern Chilean localities in 2003; indeed, it appears
that the species reaches its highest densities in regions of the Archipelago, where habitat disturbance is
minimal (M. Crump pers. comm.). In Argentina, this is a scarce species and appears to have declined at
one site (Puerto Blest, Ro Negro Province) during the past 50 years.
Current Population Trend:Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

It generally occurs in the leaf-litter of temperate Nothofagus forests; it is also present in forest bogs.
Females deposit eggs in the leaf-litter. When the larvae inside the eggs begin to move, adult males
ingest the eggs and incubate them in vocal sacs. Larvae develop inside the male and emerge after
metamorphosis. The species is not tolerant of habitat disturbance.

Systems:Terrestrial, Freshwater

Threats (see Appendix for additional information)

In the north, the main threats are drought and pine forestry, while in the south it is clear-cutting of
forest. Declines that have taken place in suitable habitat could be the result of other threats, such as
climate change or disease (possibly chytridiomycosis, although this normally impacts species that are
associated with water, and it has not previously been reported from Chile).

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

There are several protected areas in the range of the species, though there remains a need for improved
maintenance and protection of native forest habitats, particularly in the north. Close population
monitoring of this species is required given the declines seen in suitable habitat. In Chile, it is listed as
"Endangered" (En Peligro de Extincin) (Reglamento de la Ley de Caza, Chile, 1998).

Credits
Assessor(s):

Carmen beda, Alberto Veloso, Herman Nez, Esteban Lavilla

Reviewer(s):

Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson,

Neil Cox and Bruce Young)

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhinoderma darwinii published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

Bibliography
Busse, K. 1970. Care of the young by male Rhinoderma darwini. Copeia: 395.
Busse, K. 1991. Bemerkungen zum Fortpflanzungsverhalten und zur Zucht von Rhinoderma darwinii.
Herpetofauna: 11-21.
Cei, J.M. 1962. Batracios de Chile. Ediciones de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
Cei, J.M. 1980. Amphibians of Argentina. Monitore Zoologico Italiano N.S. Monografia.
Daz-Pez, H. and Ortiz, J.C. 2003. Evaluacin del estado de conservacin de los anfibios en Chile.
Assessment of the conservation status of amphibians in Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 76:
509-525.
Formas, J.R. 1995. Anfibios. In: Simonetti, J.M., Arroyo, T.K., Spotorno, A. and Loz, E. (eds), Diversidad
Biolgica de Chile, Comisin nacional de ciencia y tecnologa (CONICYT), Santiago-Chile.
Glade, A. 1993. Red List of Chilean Terrestrial vertebrates. Corporacin nacional forestal (CONAF),
Santiago-Chile.
IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.2). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 29 June 2010).
Jorquera, B. 1986. Biologa de la reproduccin del gnero Rhinoderma. Anales del Museo de Historia
Natural. Valparaso, Chile: 53-62.
Jorquera, B., Garrido, O. and Pugn, E. 1982. Comparative studies of the digestive tract development
between Rhinoderma darwinii and R. rufum. Journal of Herpetology: 204-214.
Jorquera, B., Pugn, E. and Goicoechea, O. 1972. Tabla de desarrollo normal de Rhinoderma darwini.
Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria: 5-19.
Lavilla, E.O. 1987. La Larva de Rhinoderma darwinii D. and B. (Anura: Rhinodermatidae). Acta Zoologica
Lilloana: 81-88.
Lavilla, E.O., Ponssa, M.L., Baldo, D., Basso, N., Bosso, A., Cspedez, J., Chebez, J.C., Faivovich, J., Ferrari,
L., Lajmanovich, R., Langone, J.A., Peltzer, P., beda, C., Vaira, M. and Vera Candioti, F. 2000.
Categorizacin de los Anfibios de Argentina. Categorizacin de los Anfibios y Reptiles de la Repblica
Argentina: 11-34.
Servicio Agrcola Ganadero. 1998. Cartilla de caza. Imp. I. Flores, Santiago de Chile.
Veloso, A. 1998. Variabilidad gentica y distribucin geogrfica de Rhinoderma darwinii (Amphibia,
Rhinodermatidae). Simposio Darwin en Chilo. Reflexiones sobre Historia, Ecologa y Evolucin. 22 al 26
de noviembre de 1998, Ancud, Chilo, Chile.
Veloso, A. and Navarro, J. 1988. Lista Sistemtica y distribucin geogrfica de anfibios y reptiles de Chile.
Bollettino del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali - Torino: 481-539.

Citation
Carmen beda, Alberto Veloso, Herman Nez, Esteban Lavilla. 2010. Rhinoderma darwinii. The IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T19513A8944391. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20102.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhinoderma darwinii published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhinoderma darwinii published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat

Season

Suitability

Major
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.3. Forest - Subantarctic

Suitable

Yes

1. Forest -> 1.4. Forest - Temperate

Suitable

Yes

5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.4. Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps,

Fens, Peatlands

Suitable

Yes

Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat

Timing

Scope

Severity

Impact Score

1. Residential & commercial development -> 1.1.

Housing & urban areas

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual &

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder
farming

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual &

perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.3. Agro-industry
farming

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.2. Wood & pulp

plantations -> 2.2.2. Agro-industry plantations

2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.3. Livestock farming

& ranching -> 2.3.2. Small-holder grazing, ranching or
farming

5. Biological resource use -> 5.3. Logging & wood

harvesting -> 5.3.5. Motivation
Unknown/Unrecorded
7. Natural system modifications -> 7.1. Fire & fire
suppression -> 7.1.3. Trend Unknown/Unrecorded

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhinoderma darwinii published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

8. Invasive & other problematic species & genes ->

8.1. Invasive non-native/alien species -> 8.1.2.
Named species (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis)
9. Pollution -> 9.3. Agricultural & forestry effluents ->
9.3.4. Type Unknown/Unrecorded
11. Climate change & severe weather -> 11.2.
Droughts
11. Climate change & severe weather -> 11.5. Other
impacts

Ongoing

Stresses:

2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation

Ongoing

Stresses:

1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.3. Indirect ecosystem effects

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range
Occur in at least one PA: Yes

Conservation Actions Needed

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions Needed
1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection
2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management
2. Land/water management -> 2.3. Habitat & natural process restoration
3. Species management -> 3.4. Ex-situ conservation -> 3.4.1. Captive breeding/artificial propagation
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications

Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
1. Research -> 1.5. Threats

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhinoderma darwinii published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.6. Actions

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Lower elevation limit (m): 50
Upper elevation limit (m): 1100

Population
Population severely fragmented: No

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhinoderma darwinii published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T19513A8944391.en

The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES