The Horned Marsupial frog, boasting distinctive peaks on its eyelids, once ranged from Costa Rica south to Ecuador, but was feared extinct in both countries.
Devastating logging and clearing for plantations in Central and South American rainforests affect this species' habitat, high in the trees where the humid air keeps their skin from drying out.
These frogs showcase a unique parenting style; instead of laying thousands of eggs in water, like most frogs, the female lays fewer than 10 eggs and carries them in a pouch on the mother's back—earning them the 'marsupial' title reminiscent of kangaroos and koalas.
In 2018, the frog was rediscovered in Ecuador - in a little-studied region of the Chocó that narrowly escaped destruction after Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco purchased land threatened by logging. This conservation success story was featured in Smithsonian Magazine, where you can read the full article.
Martin Schaefer, CEO of Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco, which manages the Canandé reserve where the Horned Marsupial frog lives, says that the frog’s rediscovery proves the importance of protecting remote, vulnerable habitats.
Do you want to be part of investing in Canandé and the protection of this unique frog from extinction?
Contact us at info@investconservation.com
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