The “mountain chicken” is a large amphibian, a type of frog, often mistaken for a bird due to its unusual name. Its unique biology and significant conservation challenges make it a fascinating creature.
Unmasking the “Mountain Chicken”: What It Is (and Isn’t)
The mountain chicken is a large frog, scientifically identified as Leptodactylus fallax. It is also known as the Giant Ditch Frog or Crapaud. This species ranks among the largest frogs globally, with adults reaching up to 22 centimeters in length and weighing as much as 1 kilogram.
It has a robust body, a large head, and well-muscled hind legs, contributing to its powerful jumping ability. Its coloration ranges from chestnut-brown to reddish-brown, often with darker banding or splotches. Its sides transition to an orange-yellow hue, ending in a pale yellow or cream belly. It also has large eyes with dark pupils and golden irises.
The unusual common name, “mountain chicken,” stems from its historical role as a food source; its meat was said to taste similar to chicken. Other theories suggest the name relates to its jumping ability or the way mother frogs stay with their offspring, reminiscent of a hen with chicks. This frog’s cultural significance is also reflected in its appearance on Dominica’s coat of arms.
A Vanishing Habitat: Where It Lives and Its Ecology
The mountain chicken frog’s natural range is now restricted to the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat. While once more widely distributed across at least seven Lesser Antillean islands, its populations have disappeared from most of these locations. The frog prefers moist environments, including dense secondary forests, ravines, and damp areas near streams or springs. It is often found at lower altitudes, though it can occur up to 430 meters above sea level on Montserrat.
This species is primarily nocturnal and terrestrial, spending its days hidden in burrows dug into moist soil or within rock crevices. At night, it emerges to hunt, acting as a sit-and-wait predator with a broad diet. Its carnivorous diet includes a variety of invertebrates such as crickets, millipedes, crustaceans, and spiders, and it will also consume small vertebrates like other frogs, snakes, and even small mammals.
The mountain chicken exhibits a unique reproductive strategy involving significant parental care. Breeding occurs in burrows, where the male attracts a female with trilling calls. The female produces a foam nest for her eggs. After hatching, the female provides tadpoles with unfertilized “trophic” eggs, their sole food source for approximately 45 days until they metamorphose into froglets. Both parents guard the nest, with the male often defending the burrow entrance.
The Perilous Plight: Major Threats to Survival
The mountain chicken frog is critically endangered due to several severe threats. A major challenge is the fungal disease chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). This fungus infects amphibian skin, hindering water and electrolyte regulation, and ultimately leading to heart failure. The disease caused a rapid decline, wiping out over 99% of the mountain chicken population in Dominica within 18 months of its arrival in 2002, and similarly impacting Montserrat in 2009.
Habitat loss also significantly impacts the species. Deforestation, agricultural expansion, and human development have reduced and fragmented its natural environment. On Dominica, coastal development poses a threat, while on Montserrat, volcanic activity has destroyed substantial portions of its habitat. These environmental changes leave the frogs with fewer suitable areas to live and breed.
Invasive species have further compounded the challenges. Introduced predators such as rats, feral cats, dogs, and mongooses prey on the frogs, which are particularly vulnerable due to their large size and terrestrial habits. The presence of invasive frog species, like cane toads, which can carry the chytrid fungus without succumbing to the disease, also acts as a reservoir, continually exposing mountain chickens to the pathogen. Historically, overhunting for human consumption also contributed to significant population declines before the emergence of the chytrid fungus.
Hope for Survival: Conservation Efforts
Numerous initiatives are underway to protect and restore mountain chicken populations. Captive breeding programs play a significant role, with facilities in zoos and conservation centers, such as the Zoological Society of London and Jersey Zoo, maintaining “safety-net” populations. These programs aim to preserve genetic diversity and provide individuals for potential reintroduction into the wild. A conservation breeding facility has also been established in Dominica to support local efforts.
Reintroduction efforts involve releasing captive-bred frogs into suitable habitats on their native islands. These efforts are carefully managed, often focusing on areas where the risk of chytrid fungus might be mitigated. For example, semi-wild enclosures with solar-heated pools are being trialed to create conditions unfavorable for the fungus, as it cannot survive in warmer temperatures above 28°C.
Habitat restoration and protection projects are also underway to safeguard the remaining natural environments of the mountain chicken. This includes managing canopy cover to increase ground temperatures and reduce fungal load. Disease management strategies involve biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of chytrid fungus and research into treatments for infected amphibians. Public awareness campaigns are also conducted to garner support for conservation and reduce human impacts on the species. These collaborative efforts, often under the umbrella of the Mountain Chicken Recovery Programme, aim to secure a future for this unique frog.