Calyptocephallela gayi

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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