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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Vulnerable |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
This frog occurs in temperate grasslands and shrublands, on the ground near temporary waterbodies and in open areas (Basso 1990). It has low reproductive potential with a brief reproductive period after heavy rainfalls (Basso 1990, Vaira et al. 2012, Agostini and Deutsch pers. comm. 2024). The eggs are laid on the bottom of temporary ponds. It can be found in roadside ditches and in irrigated cropland (G. Agostini pers. comm. 2024). However, it is thought that the species uses these types of artificial wetlands because natural or pristine environments are almost non-existent (Perrone et al. 2022). In areas where extensive crops (monocultures) are predominant, the occurrence of the species is rare (Agostini et al. 2021, Deutsch et al. 2024).
Range:
The species occurs at elevations between sea level and 200 m asl. Based on historical records, it is known from the Pampean region of Argentina (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, La Pampa, and Santa Fe provinces), Uruguay (a few localities in Rocha, San José, and Montevideo departments), and the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. However, it has not been registered in Uruguay since 1982, and the last record from Brazil dates back to 1992 (Deutsch et al. 2024). The latest national assessments have assigned it the status of Vulnerable in Argentina (Vaira et al. 2012) and Uruguay (Maneyro and Carreira 2015), and Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) in Brazil (Ministry of Environment 2022). A major search effort in the three countries, involving passive acoustic monitoring and citizen science tools, failed to recover recent records of this species in Brazil and Uruguay (Deutsch et al. 2024). This supports the notion that the species is Possibly Extinct in both countries. Thus, the remnant subpopulations of the species would be exclusively located in the Pampean region of Argentina (Deutsch et al. 2017, Deutsch et al. 2024). While the estimated distribution area for Argentina currently includes both the Pampean and Espinal regions, recent studies using potential distribution models predict low habitat suitability in the Espinal and marginal areas of the Pampean region (Deutsch et al. 2024). Considering the records obtained from several data sources (herpetological collections, field monitoring and citizen science) ranging from 1879 to 2023 (Deutsch et al. 2024) plus new records from 2024, the historical extent of occurrence (EOO) is 508,805 km2 and the historical area of occurrence (AOO) is 1,812 km2. However, when estimations are calculated based only on records obtained in the past 15 years, the current EOO is reduced to 322,283 km2, approximately 37% of the historical distribution, and the current AOO is reduced to 972 km2.
Conservation:
Conservation Actions In-Place
There are records of the presence of the species in several protected areas. However, in Argentina, most of them are historical records (Reserva Natural El Destino, Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos) and the recent ones belong to areas protected by law but without effective protection (Refugio de Vida Silvestre-Reserva Natural Integral Bahía de Samborombón, Reserva Natural Punta Lara). In Uruguay, its historical records are within or close to the following conservation units: Parque Nacional Cabo Polonio, Área de Manejo de Hábitats and/or Especies Cerro Verde e Islas de la Coronilla and the Área Protegida con Recursos Manejados Humedales del Santa Lucía (Maneyro et al. 2019). In Brazil, there are historical records for Estação Ecológica do Taim.
Each country (Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay) has completed the Amphibian Conservation Needs Assessment (see www.amphibianark.org) for this species (Zank et al. 2020, Agostini and Deutsch 2021, Carreira et al. 2022).
A tri-national research and conservation endeavour known as the "Giant of the Pampas" is currently underway (https://gigantedospampas.wixsite.com/english), encompassing collaboration among researchers and conservationists from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. This initiative aims to ascertain the population status of this species by amalgamating various data sources, including herpetological collections, citizen science initiatives, and fieldwork, as well as employing diverse monitoring techniques (Maneyro et al. 2019).
In Uruguay, the species is protected through national legislation by Ley de Fauna (Nº 9481 y decretos reglamentarios). It has been identified as a priority species in the Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas, and it is listed as Vulnerable VU B1ab(iii) in the National Red List (Maneyro et al. 2019). Finally, mitigation of the effects of the advancing urban frontier in coastal areas where this species occurs is recommended (Maneyro et al. 2019).
In Brazil, progress has been made in establishing working agreements within the Giant of the Pampas project, including several institutions such as the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the National Center for Reptile and Amphibian Research and Conservation of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation of the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, and the Curicaca Institute to further delineate research into the causes of the decline of this species in Brazil.
In Argentina, a citizen science programme has been ongoing since 2015 monitoring the occurrence of the species in real time (Deutsch et al. 2017). This programme has successfully gathered, to date, over 1,100 confirmed records. Additionally, in 2021, it initiated a Rescue and Relocation Plan, which involves engaging local communities coexisting with the species to report encounters with individuals in risky situations (e.g. on busy streets, in backyard settings). Upon receiving a rescue call, members of the team or participating partners capture the animal and release it in a pre-selected area known to be suitable for the species. Additionally, two working agreements were signed with two municipalities located in one of the areas identified as priorities for the species (General Lavalle and La Costa). Each year, educational and awareness workshops on the species' conservation are coordinated with the education secretariats in both localities. Also, in 2021, the municipality of General Lavalle declared this species of local interest.
Conservation Needed
Remnants of natural grasslands and associated wetlands must receive conservation priority, and increasing coverage of protected areas (private and public) could offer an opportunity to conserve grassland patches. This is particularly suitable for the Flooding Pampas in Argentina, where other conservation strategies that recognize and encourage alternative economic uses like sustainable cattle-raising (e.g. Alianza de Pastizal, Altmann and Berger Filho 2020, Vaccaro et al. 2020) have been extensively working in the same direction. In addition, better policy legislation to control human activities advancing on the remnants of native grassland and associated wetlands is required. Listing the species under CITES, along with increased monitoring on Argentina's border areas to prevent the export of specimens, is recommended to address the threat of illegal international trade of the species.
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, threats, and harvest trends. Monitoring international demand and trade of this species is also recommended (Maneyro et al. 2019). Population genetics studies are needed to evaluate future in situ and population management.
There are records of the presence of the species in several protected areas. However, in Argentina, most of them are historical records (Reserva Natural El Destino, Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos) and the recent ones belong to areas protected by law but without effective protection (Refugio de Vida Silvestre-Reserva Natural Integral Bahía de Samborombón, Reserva Natural Punta Lara). In Uruguay, its historical records are within or close to the following conservation units: Parque Nacional Cabo Polonio, Área de Manejo de Hábitats and/or Especies Cerro Verde e Islas de la Coronilla and the Área Protegida con Recursos Manejados Humedales del Santa Lucía (Maneyro et al. 2019). In Brazil, there are historical records for Estação Ecológica do Taim.
Each country (Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay) has completed the Amphibian Conservation Needs Assessment (see www.amphibianark.org) for this species (Zank et al. 2020, Agostini and Deutsch 2021, Carreira et al. 2022).
A tri-national research and conservation endeavour known as the "Giant of the Pampas" is currently underway (https://gigantedospampas.wixsite.com/english), encompassing collaboration among researchers and conservationists from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. This initiative aims to ascertain the population status of this species by amalgamating various data sources, including herpetological collections, citizen science initiatives, and fieldwork, as well as employing diverse monitoring techniques (Maneyro et al. 2019).
In Uruguay, the species is protected through national legislation by Ley de Fauna (Nº 9481 y decretos reglamentarios). It has been identified as a priority species in the Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas, and it is listed as Vulnerable VU B1ab(iii) in the National Red List (Maneyro et al. 2019). Finally, mitigation of the effects of the advancing urban frontier in coastal areas where this species occurs is recommended (Maneyro et al. 2019).
In Brazil, progress has been made in establishing working agreements within the Giant of the Pampas project, including several institutions such as the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the National Center for Reptile and Amphibian Research and Conservation of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation of the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, and the Curicaca Institute to further delineate research into the causes of the decline of this species in Brazil.
In Argentina, a citizen science programme has been ongoing since 2015 monitoring the occurrence of the species in real time (Deutsch et al. 2017). This programme has successfully gathered, to date, over 1,100 confirmed records. Additionally, in 2021, it initiated a Rescue and Relocation Plan, which involves engaging local communities coexisting with the species to report encounters with individuals in risky situations (e.g. on busy streets, in backyard settings). Upon receiving a rescue call, members of the team or participating partners capture the animal and release it in a pre-selected area known to be suitable for the species. Additionally, two working agreements were signed with two municipalities located in one of the areas identified as priorities for the species (General Lavalle and La Costa). Each year, educational and awareness workshops on the species' conservation are coordinated with the education secretariats in both localities. Also, in 2021, the municipality of General Lavalle declared this species of local interest.
Conservation Needed
Remnants of natural grasslands and associated wetlands must receive conservation priority, and increasing coverage of protected areas (private and public) could offer an opportunity to conserve grassland patches. This is particularly suitable for the Flooding Pampas in Argentina, where other conservation strategies that recognize and encourage alternative economic uses like sustainable cattle-raising (e.g. Alianza de Pastizal, Altmann and Berger Filho 2020, Vaccaro et al. 2020) have been extensively working in the same direction. In addition, better policy legislation to control human activities advancing on the remnants of native grassland and associated wetlands is required. Listing the species under CITES, along with increased monitoring on Argentina's border areas to prevent the export of specimens, is recommended to address the threat of illegal international trade of the species.
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, threats, and harvest trends. Monitoring international demand and trade of this species is also recommended (Maneyro et al. 2019). Population genetics studies are needed to evaluate future in situ and population management.