A pair of critically endangered ‘mountain chicken’ frogs – native to Montserrat – have produced offspring in a custom-built home in London Zoo.
The six, inch-long froglets, which have some growing to do to reach the size of the enormous adults, will play a key role in bringing the species back from the brink of extinction.
Mountain chickens were once widespread across the Caribbean until the introduction of the deadly chytrid fungus to their habitat on Montserrat and Dominica.
It caused a mass mortality event in the early 2000s, and wiped out more than 90% of the population.
During a recent intensive survey to find the frogs in Dominica, conservationists identified just 21 live individuals.
Survivor rescue
In 2009, experts from London Zoo and other European zoos airlifted the last few mountain chicken frogs to safety in a last-ditch attempt to save the species from extinction.
A highly successful conservation breeding programme, which included breeding 76 frogs from just two females in 2012, led to some of the frogs being returned to the Caribbean.
In 2014, 51 were released back onto Monserrat into a protected area of the island’s forest, and in 2019 another 27 frogs were transferred to Monserrat as part of the reintroduction programme.
Some of the remaining mountain chickens are now living in the zoo’s ‘Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians’ exhibit which is opening to the public this Easter, according to a press release.
Ben Tapley, curator of reptiles and amphibians, said the team are delighted at how quickly the frog colony settled into their new home.
“Soon after they arrived, we spotted the female frog guarding her foam nest,” he said, adding that mountain chickens are incredible parents.
Nesting frogs
When the huge frogs, which weigh about 360 grammes each, arrived in their bespoke home, they immediately got to work prepping for parenthood.
The huge male quickly dug a ‘bowl’ in the underground clay lined nesting chambers, showing off his skills to his new mate, the press release said.
Once enticed into the nest, the pair began the hard work of prepping to welcome their offspring – producing a foam nest to lay their eggs into.
The tadpoles developed in the foam nest and, uniquely, the mother will lay thousands of unfertilised eggs for her offspring to feed on every one to seven days.
“The mother regularly visits the nest to lay unfertile eggs, which the growing brood will feed on,” Tapley explained in the press release.
“She also guards her nests, puffing up and using her body to defend her young from anything that gets a little too close.”
Montserrat’s Mountain Chicken Recovery Programme in a Facebook post congratulated the zoo on the “amazing achievement”.
“The mountain chickens surely have a bright future with all the amazing efforts being put forward,” the post said.
