Calyptocephallela gayi

About Calyptocephallela gayi:

• It is also known as Helmeted Water Toad which hopped alongside dinosaurs and is considered a “living fossil”.
• It is one of the largest frogs in the world, growing up to over 30 cm (1 foot) in length and weighing up to 1 kg (2.2 lbs).
• Appearance: It is a robust species with a broad head and large mouth. It is very large, and can reach a snout–to–vent length of up to 15.5 cm (6 in) in males and 32 cm (13 in) in females.
• Habitat: They inhabit aquatic environments, such as lakes, rivers and ponds.
• Distribution: They are found in the lowlands of Chile, up to 500 m in elevation.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: Vulnerable
• Threats: Factors such as climate change, habitat interruption, environmental decline and pollution have all caused the Helmeted Water Toad’s numbers to dwindle.

Q1: What is a living fossil?

It refers to an ‘archaic’ species that has survived for a long time, whose anatomy harks back to an early stage in the group’s evolutionary tree and has remained unchanged for much of that period.

News: Chile’s giant ‘living fossil’ frog faces threat from climate change and humans

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