Amphibians
Loa Water Frog
Telmatobius dankoi
Confined entirely to a single narrow stretch of river deep within Chile’s Atacama Desert, a Loa water frog ranks among the rarest and most narrowly distributed amphibian species found anywhere on Earth.
Overview
The Loa water frog, Telmatobius dankoi, is a Critically Endangered amphibian native to wetland and desert habitat found only within a single river system in the Atacama Desert of Chile. Its extraordinarily restricted range, its almost entirely aquatic lifestyle, and its extreme vulnerability to water extraction and pollution make it one of the most conservation-critical amphibians found anywhere in the world.
A species with nowhere else to go
With its entire global population confined to one limited stretch of desert river, the Loa water frog has no buffer against disturbance, making every drop of water extracted or polluted from that single system a direct threat to the species’ survival.
Status
Critically Endangered, with an extremely small population confined to a single river system and continuing to decline due to water extraction, pollution, and habitat degradation.
Loa Water Frog: common questions
Why is the Loa water frog considered so rare?
This species is restricted to a single, narrow stretch of river within Chile's Atacama Desert, one of the most limited ranges of any amphibian on Earth, with an extremely small total population.
Does the Loa water frog spend time on land?
Rarely if ever, this species is almost entirely aquatic, spending its whole life in the water of the single river system it depends on.
What threatens the Loa water frog?
This species faces severe threats from water extraction, pollution, and habitat degradation, given how completely its survival depends on a single limited water source.
How does the Loa water frog survive in a desert?
This species is adapted to a harsh desert river environment, tolerating conditions considerably different from those faced by most other frog species found in wetter climates.