What are amphibians?
We currently know of more than 8,000 amphibian species worldwide. These small creatures, with their delicate skin, have inhabited the planet's aquatic and terrestrial environments for 370 million years—long before humans existed.
Amphibians are classified into three distinct groups: salamanders (Urodela), caecilians (Gymnophiona), and frogs and toads (Anura). Notably, salamanders and caecilians are absent from Chile, with the country's amphibian fauna primarily comprising species from the order Anura.
Unfortunately, amphibians face significant conservation challenges worldwide and urgently require assistance: it is estimated that this class of animals is disappearing 211 times faster than in the past. Chile is no exception to this critical situation.
Amazing amphibians
The amphibians of Chile are unique, with an evolutionary history marked by ancient geographic isolation from the rest of the world. This isolation has given rise to remarkable adaptations, making them distinct and highly specialised.
In Chile, you can find the only amphibian species that raises its tadpoles inside its vocal sac: Darwin's Frog (Rhinoderma darwinii).
tadpoles moving inside a male's vocal sac
We have very ancient species from an evolutionary standpoint, often referred to as living fossils. One example is Telmatobufo australis, whose tadpoles have suction cups that allow them to cling to the torrential rivers where they reside.
In northern Chile, there are also aquatic frogs that inhabit extremely limited sections of rivers—sometimes just a few hundred metres long—at high altitudes in the driest desert in the world. One example is the Loa Frog (Telmatobius dankoi).
There are toads adapted to the harsh mountain life of the Andes range, such as Rhinella spinulosa.
And in Chile also lives one of the worlds largest frogs: the Chilean Frog (Calyptocephalella gayi). This highly aquatic species is endemic (only found in our country):
The remarkably high number of unique amphibians, coupled with the significant threats they face, stands in stark contrast to our still limited understanding of Chilean amphibians. This underscores the urgent need and responsibility we have to protect this incredible source of native biodiversity.
Click to see the talk 'Amphibians of Chile and the case of the unique Darwin's Frog'.
Importance in the ecosystem
In Chile, amphibians are animals capable of occupying a wide range of environments, and their ecological importance is multifaceted:
These little animals are recognized as natural controllers of pests that can be annoying to humans, such as some flying insects.
​They represent a large percentage of the biomass (amount of living matter present in an environment) in some ecosystems.
Amphibians can occupy aquatic environments (pools, rivers or wetlands) as part of their life cycle.
also terrestrial environments (prairies and forests). In this way, they transfer matter and energy between these two different
ecosystems.
​Finally, similar to canaries in coal mines, amphibians are indicators of environmental health. In some rural areas of central and southern Chile, it was popularly believed that Chilean frogs cleaned the water from wells and for this reason they were deliberately left in waterwheels and other
constructions to store drinking water.
​They represent an important source of food for other animals and therefore play a fundamental role in the food chains of different environments.
Cultural importance
The cultural importance of amphibians in Chile dates back to the pre-Hispanic people who inhabited the region. For example, the Pitren Complex featured intricate amphibian-shaped pots, some of which may have been crafted as far back as 2,000 years ago. Several of these vessels discovered in archaeological sites were painted with designs that can easily be linked to Chilean amphibians, such as Darwin's Frog and the Beautiful Toad (Telmatobufo venustus) (Figure). The use of amphibian forms in sculpture and pottery seems to have been common across various pre-Columbian cultures. The Mapuche people, for instance, have words for some frog species, such as arumko (Rulo Toad) and pakarwa (Chilean Frog). There are also reports suggesting that this community used some type of amphibian to produce a potent poison, derived through a process that concentrated a toxic substance naturally present in low concentrations in the skin of certain native amphibians. Remarkably, the species involved and the exact process for concentrating this toxic compound remain entirely unknown to modern science. Even today, amphibians remain prominent in our popular culture, for example, in children's games or television shows with characters like Kermit the Frog. Charismatic species, such as the Darwin's Frog, inspire handicrafts and attract tourists eager to meet this incredible creature. Thus, amphibians have been part of our cultural heritage for millennia and continue to influence us today.
Figure. Vessels from the Pitrén complex representing amphibian species native to Chile.A) Beautiful Toad (telmatobufo venustus).B.) Bullock's toad (Telmatobufo bullocki).C) Darwin's frog (Rhinoderma darwinii).D) Four-Eyed Toad (Pleurodema thaul). Image extracted from Pérez et al. (2018).
your threats
Global evidence indicates that amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates (animals with backbones) on the planet, surpassing even mammals and birds in this unfortunate ranking. For several decades, particularly since the 1980s, herpetologists (scientists who study amphibians and reptiles) have observed that amphibian populations are declining at an alarming rate across various regions of the world.
​
This is not surprising, as these small creatures are highly sensitive to environmental changes, and the world is transforming at an alarming rate. Wetlands are critical habitats for a large number of amphibians. Globally, and particularly in Chile, public policies have historically promoted and funded the contamination and destruction of wetlands—such as through draining or peat extraction—to expand urban development. This has contributed to the global decline of amphibian populations. In Chile, for instance, the Chilean Large Frog (Calyptocephalella gayi) commonly inhabits these types of environments.
The loss and degradation of native forests due to clearcutting, selective logging (such as firewood extraction), grazing by domestic livestock, and fires within the forest are likely major threats to amphibians, particularly Darwin's Frog and other amphibian species from southern Chile that inhabit these forests.
Another significant threat to amphibians is climate change caused by human activities. For example, using statistical and climate models, David Uribe (a member of the Ranita de Darwin NGO) and his collaborators found that the current climate has led to a reduction in the area where Darwin's Frog can survive, which partly explains the population decline observed in this species. David also conducted predictive modelling of the potential impact of projected climate change on the future distribution of Darwin's Frog. These predictions suggest that as Chile becomes hotter and drier, with an increase in the frequency of extreme events, the species' distribution will significantly shrink. Large areas of the Andes, where Darwin's Frog is commonly found today, would become climatically unsuitable for its survival, leading to its disappearance from these regions.
What to do if we find an amphibian?
Amphibians are ectothermic and have delicate, permeable skin through which they exchange water, electrolytes, and air with their environment. They also have a natural microbial community on their skin that protects them from pathogens. This means that chemicals on human hands, such as creams, perfumes, tobacco, sunscreen, insect repellents, etc., could be harmful to these animals' health. As a result, we recommend not handling them.
​
Another important consideration is that, in Chile, it is legally prohibited (under the Hunting Law and its regulations) for individuals to handle wild animals, including amphibians. Researchers wishing to conduct scientific work must request a special permit from the Agricultural and Livestock Service of Chile (SAG), providing adequate justification for handling these animals and adhering to animal welfare and biosecurity measures.
​
In the event of an amphibian rescue emergency (for example, if we encounter an injured frog in the wild), we should contact the SAG or an authorised rescue centre.
To download the E-book Darwin's Frog and other incredible Chilean amphibians, click here
To download the book Darwin's Frog Conservation Strategy,click here
