Lost frogs: finding the world's rarest amphibians – in pictures

In Search of Lost Frogs is the story of conservationist and photographer Robin Moore’s journey from Colombia to Costa Rica and Israel to India to find lost species, a quest he embarked upon – later joined by 126 researchers in 21 countries – in 2010. He has founded the Amphibian Survival Alliance and is a fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers. The expedition and its discoveries give hope that it is still not too late to save some species, and they are all remarkable as is illustrated by Moore’s stunning photographs here

theguardian.com, Thursday 11 September 2014 06.29 EDT

Cuchumatan Golden Toad, Incilius aurarius, from the Cuchumatanes mountains of Guatemala. The toad, only discovered and described as recently as 2012, was photographed during a recent search for the lost Jackson's Climbing Salamander. — Cuchumatan golden toad, Incilius aurarius, from the Cuchumatanes mountains of Guatemala. The toad, discovered in 2012, was photographed during a search for the lost Jackson’s climbing salamander

The beautiful and enigmatic harlequin frogs - of which there are around 120 known species - have been hardest hit by the global decline and extinction of amphibians worldwide, with many, such as these Panamanian Golden Frogs (Atelopus zeteki), disappearing from the wild — Panamanian golden frogs (Atelopus zeteki)

A male harlequin frog - of a species new to science - clings onto the back of a female in southern Ecuador. She is dead. The male is taken into captivity and dies soon after. Both test positive for the lethal amphibian chtyrid fungus. — A male harlequin frog – of a species new to science – clings onto the back of a female in southern Ecuador. She is dead. The male is taken into captivity and dies soon after. Both test positive for the lethal amphibian chtyrid fungus

It's not only the frogs that are disappearing. The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is a species of salamander from Mexico that spends its entire life in an aquatic form with large feathery gills. This Peter Pan of the animal world is on the verge of extinction as a result of urbanization. The axolotl is frequently bred in captivity as a model organism for research into, among others, heart defects and regeneration. — The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is a species of salamander from Mexico that spends its entire life in an aquatic form with large feathery gills. This Peter Pan of the animal world is on the verge of extinction and is frequently bred in captivity as a model organism for research into heart defects and regeneration

Frogs have been called the canary in the global coalmine as a result of their sensitivity to environmental change, providing a litmus test of the state of our environment. Some groups, such as the glass frogs, are particularly sensitive to change. This young glass frog from the Chocó of Colombia is indicative of a relatively healthy ecosystem. — Frogs have been called the canary in the global coalmine as a result of their sensitivity to environmental change, providing a litmus test of the state of our environment. Some groups, such as the glass frogs, are particularly sensitive to change. This young glass frog from the Chocó of Colombia is indicative of a relatively healthy ecosystem

Glass frog eggs, Cochranella resplendens, found on a leaf overhanging a stream in southern Ecuador. — Eggs of glass frog, Cochranella resplendens, found on a leaf overhanging a stream in southern Ecuador

A newly metamorphosed Emerald Glass Frog, Espadarana prosoblepon, in the Choco of Colombia. — A newly metamorphosed emerald glass frog, Espadarana prosoblepon, in the Chocó forests of Colombia

A Reticulated Glass Frog in the Chocó forests of Colombia. Armed conflict has kept developers out of these forests, resulting in vast swathes of lush rainforest and a high diversity of frogs. — A reticulated glass frog in the Chocó forests of Colombia. Armed conflict has kept developers out of these forests, resulting in vast swathes of lush rainforest and a high diversity of frogs

Years and decades after the disappearance of some species, they reappeared to the surprise and amazement of the scientific community. The Variable Harlequin Frog, Atelopus varius, disappeared from the forests of Costa Rica and Panama before being rediscovered in 2003. The reappearance of these Lazarus frogs could help us decipher how we prevent these and other frogs succumbing to extinction. — The variable harlequin frog, Atelopus varius, disappeared from the forests of Costa Rica and Panama before being rediscovered in 2003. The reappearance of these Lazarus frogs could help us decipher how we prevent these and other frogs succumbing to extinction

An expedition to the remote forests of the Cuchumatanes mountains of northwest Guatemala in 2009 resulted in the rediscovery of the rare Finca Chiblac Salamander, Bradytriton silus, 32 years after it was last seen. The critically endangered salamander is the only species in the genus. — An expedition to the remote forests of the Cuchumatanes mountains of northwest Guatemala in 2009 resulted in the rediscovery of the rare Finca Chiblac salamander, Bradytriton silus, 32 years after it was last seen. The critically endangered salamander is the only species in the genus

An expedition in search of the Mesopotamia Beaked Toad in Colombia, last seen in 1914, led to the discovery of an entirely new species of beaked toad. The species was dubbed the Monty Burns Toad after Moore made a casual comparison to the nefarious villain in the Simpsons, and became TIME Magazine's #1 new species of 2010. — An expedition in search of the Mesopotamia beaked toad in Colombia, last seen in 1914, led to the discovery of an entirely new species of beaked toad. The species was dubbed the Monty Burns toad after Moore made a casual comparison to the nefarious villain in the Simpsons, and became Time magazine’s number one new species of 2010

The La Hotte Glanded Frog, Eleutherodactylus glandulifer, is one of six frogs rediscovered after close to two decades in southwest Haiti. The frogs are a flagship of hope for the preservation of fragmented cloud forests. — The La Hotte Glanded frog, Eleutherodactylus glandulifer, is one of six frogs rediscovered after close to two decades in southwest Haiti. The frogs are a flagship of hope for the preservation of fragmented cloud forests

The Macaya Breast-spot Frog, Eleutherodactylus thorectes, is one of the smallest frogs in the world. This critically endangered species was last seen in 1991 on the Massif de la Hotte in southwest Haiti, before being rediscovered by Moore and team close to two decades later during the Search for Lost Frogs. — The Macaya breast-spot frog, Eleutherodactylus thorectes, is one of the smallest frogs in the world. This critically endangered species was last seen in 1991 on the Massif de la Hotte in southwest Haiti, before being rediscovered by Moore and team close to two decades later during the Search for Lost Frogs

A researcher swabs the legs of a Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, Rana muscosa, from the pristine lakes of California to test for the presence of a deadly fungal killer. The frog has gone from one of the most abundant vertebrates in the USA to one of the rarest. — A researcher swabs the legs of a mountain yellow-legged frog, Rana muscosa, from the pristine lakes of California to test for the presence of a deadly fungal killer. The frog has gone from one of the most abundant vertebrates in the US to one of the rarest Photograph: Robin Moore/Robin Moore

In order to address the massive decline and extinction of amphibians worldwide the Amphibian Survival Alliance is addressing the primary threats of habitat loss and disease. New reserves are being created to protect critical habitat for species such as this Guatemalan Brook Frog, Duellmanohyla soralia, and ensure a brighter future for frogs and for us. — In order to address the massive decline and extinction of amphibians worldwide the Amphibian Survival Alliance is addressing the primary threats of habitat loss and disease. New reserves are being created to protect critical habitat for species such as this Guatemalan brook frog, Duellmanohyla soralia, and ensure a brighter future for frogs Photograph: Robin Moore/Robin Moore

In Search of Lost Frogs is the story of Moore's journey, from Colombia to Costa Rica, Israel to India and Haiti to Ecuador, in search of answers. It is a story of perseverance, disappointment, rediscovery, resilience, but ultimately of hope, written with passion and illustrated with the author's stunning photographs. — The cover of Robin Moore’s book In Search of Lost Frogs: a story of perseverance, disappointment, rediscovery, resilience, but ultimately of hope

Hot topics

© 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

;