Amphibian populations are in decline in many areas of the world. In cities and in natural areas, in rainforests and in wetlands, countless areas which previously hosted a range of healthy amphibian populations now have fewer - or even no - frogs, toads, and salamanders. Although healthy populations of some species may exist elsewhere, in some cases, a few species - including Costa Rica's Monteverde golden toad and Australia's Gastric brooding frog - are now believed extinct.
2008: Year of the Frog 2008, Year of the Frog, is a leap year. Facing the amphibian decline crisis, it's also the year to leap to action to conserve amphibans.
Frogs and toads, salamanders, and caecilians are members of the Class Amphibia.
Of the world's seven continents, only Antarctica has no native amphibian species.
The continental United States is home to at least 230 amphibian species: 90 frog and toad species, and 140 species of salamanders.
In the U.S., declines in amphibian populations are particularly serious in California, the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest, and Puerto Rico. Worldwide, decline "hot spots" also include Australia and Central America.
Amphibian malformations - extra limbs, malformed or missing limbs, and facial malformations - have been documented in 44 states, and involve nearly 60 species. In some local populations, up to 60% of the amphibians exhibit malformations.
Conferences of Interest
In the News
The National Wildlife Federation's FrogWatch USA program plans to "Record the Ribbit" on Saturday, May 3, 2008., when citizen-scientists will create a "snapshot of a day in the life of frogs," according to the National Wildlife Federation. The day will be an opportunity to celebrate frogs and for citizen-scientists to contribute to amphibian conservation by collecting data about frog and toads. Participants will both listen for "ribbits" and watch for "ribbeters," record their findings, and share them with the world. For more information about Record the Ribbit, visit http://www.nwf.org/ribbit .
January 2008 marks the start of Amphibian Ark's "Year of the Frog." Representing a group of conservation organizations, "AArk will lead zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums in a globally coordinated public awareness campaign," according to the Amphibian Ark website. AArk hopes to call attention to the "amphibian extinction crisis which represents the greatest species conservation challenge in the history of humanity." For more information, visit AmphibianArk.org or YearoftheFrog.org.
Possible Cure for Leading Cause of Amphibian Declines
BBC News reports scientists have discovered a treatment to combat the deadly fungus implicated as a cause of worldwide amphibian declines.
"Chloramphenicol, currently used as an eye ointment for humans, may be a lifesaver for the amphibians, they say. The researchers found frogs bathed in the solution became resistant to the killer disease, chytridiomycosis." Read the full story from BBC News.
Global Amphibian Assessment The Global Amphibian Assessment is the first-ever comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of the world's 5,743 known species of frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. This website presents results of the assessments, including IUCN Red List threat category, range map, ecology information, and other data for every amphibian species. Users can search the GAA database for species by name, taxonomy, country, region, habitat type, threat type, or IUCN Red List status.
