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By Melissa Linsted
Geographic Range
Chile and Argentina (Crump 1999).
Biogeographic Regions
neotropical 
(Native )
Habitat
R. darwinii is found in temperate forests and rainforests (Cannatella 1995, Gallardo 1999).
Habitat Regions
temperate
Terrestrial Biomes
forest ; rainforest
Physical Description
2.5 to 3.5 cm
(0.98 to 1.38 in)
Length: 2.5-3.5cm
Rhinoderma darwinii has a triangular shaped head with a long, and somewhat pointy nasal extension. Color ranges from brown to bright green depending on the substrate R. darwinii is imitating. The ventrum is more brilliantly colored with a black background and big white spots as well as smaller yellow and orange spots. Its skin is basically smooth with only a few wart glands (Gallardo 1999).
Other Physical Features
ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Reproduction
Female Rhinoderma darwinii lay their eggs on moist soil and when the eggs hatch, the males "swallow" the tadpoles and put them in their specialized vocal sacs. The tadpoles stay there through metamorphosis, about 6 weeks, and then are released in a series of convulsive movements as miniature frogs (Cogger and Zweifel 1998, Gallardo 1999)
Key Reproductive Features
gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); oviparous
Food Habits
R. darwinii is insectivorous (Gallardo 1999).
Primary Diet
carnivore (Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods)
Animal Foods
insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [Link]
Vulnerable
More Information
Other Comments
R. darwinii is also known as the "Cowboy Frog" locally. Some explanations for this are that they sound like a cowboy whistling for his cattle, the ventrum spots look like cow spots, and they possess skin extensions on their legs that look like spurs.
For More Information
Find Rhinoderma darwinii information at
Contributors
Melissa Linsted (author), Michigan State University, James Harding (editor), Michigan State University, , 205 Museum, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.
