In the humid areas of Chile, an amphibian, witness to remote geological eras, is fighting a battle for survival. The Calyptocephalela gayialso known as the helmeted aquatic toad, is one of the largest toads in the world, a “living fossil” that shared the planet with the dinosaurs but today faces a threat perhaps more insidious than any prehistoric predator: the impact of man and climate change.
With a length that can reach 30 centimeters and a weight of up to one kilogram, the Calyptocephalela gayi is a giant among amphibians. For millions of years, this animal thrived in the aquatic environments of Chileshowing extraordinary resilience and adapting to epochal environmental changes. It has a robust, flattened body, with a broad head and a rounded snout. Its skin is grainy and variable in color, from olive green to dark brown, with darker spots on the back.
This species is endemic to central Chilewhere it inhabits a variety of aquatic habitats, including rivers, lakes, marshes and ponds. It is a predominantly aquatic species, with nocturnal habits. The Chilean water toad is an ovoviviparous species, meaning that the eggs develop and hatch inside the female’s body. The female gives birth to fully formed tadpoles, which are then released into the water.
But now, its future is uncertain, just think that in 2018 it was included in the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Researchers have in fact observed a worrying decline in Calyptocephalela gayi populations. It is estimated that their numbers have decreased by at least 30% since 1990.
The decline
The causes of this decline are multiple and all attributable to human activity. Climate change, with rising temperatures and reduced rainfall, is altering the aquatic habitats the frog needs to survive. Urbanization, intensive agriculture and deforestation they are fragmenting and degrading ecosystems, reducing the vital spaces for the species.
Furthermore, water pollution, caused by industrial and agricultural discharges, represents a serious threat to the health of amphibians.
Calyptocephalela gayi is not only a fascinating creature, but it also plays a vital role in the ecosystem. As a predator of insects and other invertebrates, contributes to the control of populations of species potentially harmful to agriculture. Furthermore, its presence is an indicator of the health of aquatic environments.
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