Why is it that these species haven't been seen for up to 70 yrs? Was no one looking, or did environmental change cause them to hide in more secluded areas?
- Heather from the United States
Interesting question Heather. The reasons that these species have not been seen for a very long time are varied. Some species may have disappeared; others may have evaded detection because nobody has been looking for them; others because people may have been looking for them in the wrong place or at the wrong time. When I was in Colombia we failed to find the
Mesopotamia beaked toad (Rhinella rostrata), a species that has not been seen for 96 years.
IN DEPTH: Read Robin's story in Lost Frogs: ColombiaThis does not mean that it is not there – it just means we could not find it. Amphibians are good at hiding. In many places, such as in Colombia where we were searching, habitat is more fragmented and degraded than it used to be, and it is possible that species are less abundant now. Many amphibian species have declined in abundance. In addition, amphibians are sensitive to temperature and rainfall and, if you do not time your search well, you may miss them simply because they are hiding. We will return to Colombia to look again for the beaked toad.
Are there any special frogs in Iran?
-Azintaj from Iran
When I think of Iran, I think of newts – and specifically Kaiser's spotted newt (Neurergus kaiseri) – a truly spectacular species with mottled black, white and orange markings. Sadly, its striking appearance could also prove to be its downfall. It is very popular in the pet trade and as a result of collection, less than 1,000 individuals are believed to survive in the wild. It could be the first species that I know of to be driven to extinction by e-commerce.
What is the total estimated number of amphibian species? And of that number what percentage has been lost until now and how many species remain endangered?
- Franz from Mexico
There are some 6,723 described amphibian species. Around a third are threatened with extinction – this is a higher percentage than both birds and mammals. It is hard to say exactly how many have been lost – it is difficult to prove something has disappeared, as some of the recent rediscoveries have shown. This is why we need more search efforts to find "missing" species. A total of 34 species of amphibian have been confirmed as Extinct by the IUCN, and over 130 are suspected to have gone extinct.
From the thousands of different frog species, what 6 characteristics would you take from them to create a superfrog!?
- Debra from the United States
Wow, interesting question! I would take the sheer size of the goliath frog, the toxicity of the golden poison frog, the ability of the wood frog to partially freeze and then spring back to life, the lethal spikes of the gladiator frog, the gliding ability of Wallace's flying frog and… errm.. the peanut butter smell of the Spadefoot toad??
LEARN MORE: See more incredible frog facts!Why is that most countries like here in Zambia don't have such organization that I do find in US, which looks and protect nature like things.
- Lutangu from Zambia
This is a good question Lutangu. If you were to draw a world map showing the distribution of natural resources alongside the distribution of organizations focusing on protecting nature, you would find that there is far from perfect overlap. The reality is that organizations require resources to operate, and are usually concentrated where they can secure financial resources. One of the roles of large NGO's like Conservation International is to support conservation efforts in parts of the world where they are most needed, and to channel resources where they are lacking. This is why CI works in over 40 Countries. In my experience the most inspiring conservation stories involve one or two passionate individuals dedicated to saving their environment – their home. It is our duty to support these conservation leaders. Perhaps you are a conservation leader for Zambia, Lutangu??
How many species are known in Costa Rica? Have you ever visit Corcovado national park??
- Raul from Costa Rica
Costa Rica has 188 described species of amphibian making it one of the most "amphibian diverse" countries in the world. I have never been to Corcovado national park, but would love to visit one day.
I am going on a trip to Costa Rica Cahuita- El Yue, Yorkin, ParaÃ-so de Quetzales, near Cerro de la Muerte, and Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula and other remote spots in Costa Rica next May. For what amphibians should I be on the lookout?
- Laura from the United States
Hi Laura – I am jealous! That sounds like an amazing trip. I would recommend visiting the
Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center's website for information and resources – they also have a couple of books available on the amphibians of Costa Rica. One of the most spectacular species that I would be looking out for is the red-eyed tree frog – this is so vibrant it looks as if someone has taken a paintbrush to it. Also keep your eyes peeled for small brightly colored poison dart frogs such as the strawberry poison dart frog (I probably don't need to tell you what color this one is!) that will be hopping around the forest floor during the day.
Hi Robin, Are your folks chytrid testing the amphibs you are encountering and are any of these going to assurance colonies? Just curious P.S. please tell Don I say hi.
- Kim from the United States
Hi Kim, in most instances yes, the teams will be testing for Chytrid, especially if it is an area in which we don't know much about the distribution of the fungus and the teams have the capacity to get samples tested. None of the rediscovered species will be going directly into assurance colonies – first I think it will be important to assess the status of the species, possible threats to its survival, and the appropriate conservation response. If the species is in imminent threat of being wiped out then we will consider options for an emergency response.
In the spring northern spring peepers travel to vernal pools to breed, but where do they live the rest of the time and how do they get there – is there a mass migration back to the trees? How do they survive the winter?
- Melissa from the United States
Good question Melissa! Spring peepers spend the rest of the time in forest near ephemeral pools. In the winter they hibernate hiding under logs or under loose bark – because temperatures get so low they can actually tolerate freezing of some of their bodily fluids (hard to imagine I know!). They can withstand temperatures as low as minus 8 degrees Celcius. In the spring they do make their way, en masse, to breeding pools where they congregate in their hundreds. Often they will not have come from too far away, however, so you will be unlikely to see a mass migration of frisky spring peepers.
Growing up in Suffern NY there were many toads all the time. There are none now. Where have they gone? Not much has changed since 1970 by they wild life is missing.
- John from the United States
Hi John, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm guessing you used to see the American toad, Anaxyrus americanus, hopping around – possibly also Fowler's toad, Anaxyrus fowleri. We often see amphibians declining or disappearing without any obvious reason because they are sensitive to subtle changes that we are not always aware of. In NY the distribution of the American toad is actually influenced by soil pH. So, while it may seem like nothing has changed, there could actually be subtle changes that are determining whether the toads can survive there. They are also deterred from breeding in pools with fish – it may be that there is little availability of available breeding sites for the species. The good news is that, although this species has seen some localized declines, it has a widespread distribution and, overall, is doing ok.
I live in a dry country in Eastern Washington state. There are few ponds and wetlands in vicinity, and none within acres. I put in a lined pond, and frogs appeared the next spring. How?
- Murray from the United States
Good work Murray – it's good to know that the frogs found your pond. They can be surprisingly good at finding new breeding sites such as this. This has evolved as a survival strategy – many frogs, when they metamorphose, disperse widely to colonize new areas and take advantage of breeding ponds such as yours. There are a lot of advantages to getting there first!
I have a number of green frogs in my small artificial pond (5x7). I worry about their survival if we have a harsh winter. The pond has no mud on the bottom and only 18 inches deep. Last winter they survived but we had a lot of snow (PA.)What to do?
- Ineke from the United States
Frogs survive harsh winters at the bottom of deep pools or underground. A little mud or hiding places at the bottom of your pool would probably help them out, but without this they will likely find an alternative strategy to see through the winter.
I keep receiving emails about saving frogs and that's great. The photo of the scarlet frogs mating shows that they are doing their part in conserving their species. The travelling by the team must cost some money. Contributions?
-R from the United States
Contributions are very, very welcome! If you would like to contribute to helping these and other search teams please
donate to CI.
First of all, I absolutely enjoy reading about your discoveries. How will you publicize the results? Will you create an educational program for children? A calendar with frog pictures? Certainly PBS or National Geographic might be interested! Thank you.
- Robert from the United States
Thank you Robert – I am really happy to hear you enjoy reading about these rediscoveries. We have found that press releases have been readily picked up by numerous media outlets including tv, radio, websites and magazines, including children's publications such as Time for Kids and the Weekly Reader. We are also exploring some exciting ways of publicizing these searches more widely and giving this campaign more longevity. There are many "Lost Frogs" still out there and we want to continue supporting and publicizing efforts to find them!
Will any of the frogs be sent to the special frog sanctuary in I believe it is Costa Rica, where they are protected from the fungus that is destroying wild populations?
- Probyn from the United States
Hi Probyn, there are some initiatives around the world to collect amphibians into captivity and treat them for the fungus – Panama has a good example of a facility that was built specifically for this purpose. Whether this is something we do with rediscovered frogs will depend on a number of things. Firstly, it will depend upon the status of the population and the immediate threats – only if the species is in imminent danger of being wiped out will we consider this option. If the major threat is habitat loss, it is important that we address this so that the animals have somewhere to live. Taking animals into captivity is also dependent upon capacity for keeping and breeding these animals with a prospect of returning them to the wild – so we will determine whether captive breeding and reintroduction can feasibly be incorporated into a long-term conservation strategy for the species.
Last night I saw a frog that I thought was a rock. It hopped off into the grass. This evening I saw the same frog. What kind of frogs/toads are found in Kansas? I've never seen a frog around the apartments before. Is it in danger? Is it lost? Very weird.
- Teckla from the United States
There are actually around 31 amphibian species in Kansas including over a dozen species of frogs and toads. Frogs are generally very good at being camouflaged and it is not too surprising that it looked like a rock! The gray treefrog, for example, is grey and looks just like lichen – perhaps this is what you saw? This species is relatively widespread and not in immediate danger of extinction. You can see a list of the amphibians and reptiles of Kansas at the
Center for North American Herpetology website.
May you say something about the amphibian diversity and endemism of each biological region in the planet that makes them unique or special. Thanks!
- Jerwin from the Philippines
Wow, this is a big question! Ok, in a nutshell:
- While frogs (like most other groups) increase in species richness towards the equator, and are at their most diverse in the tropics, salamanders actually show the opposite trend!
- The southeast US is actually a global hotspot for salamander diversity.
- Generally speaking, mountainous areas such as the Andes or the Eastern Arc Mountains of East Africa have given rise to an evolutionary explosion and impressive assortment of endemic amphibians – the varied microclimates providing fertile grounds for speciation.
- Africa harbors a vast assortment of amphibians from the tiny colorful Mantellas of Madagascar (all native amphibians of Madagascar are endemic to the island) to the massive goliath frogs of West Africa.
- Asia and North America have produced the largest of the amphibians, with the Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders and hellbenders taking the trophy.
- Australia has its fair share of unique amphibians including the gastric brooding frogs and the brilliantly colored corroboree frog.
- South East Asia has a rich amphibian fauna, both discovered and undiscovered – including some strange and mysterious caecilians – and much more work is needed in this intriguing region.
- The Western Ghats of India have produced an explosion of new discoveries including the purple frog – and entirely new family – and Sri Lanka also leads the pack in terms of new species discoveries and possible extinctions.
- Central and South America harbor some of the most colorful and charismatic amphibians in the form of poison dart frogs and the more enigmatic and vulnerable harlequin toads – they have also provided a test case for charting a wave of the amphibian chytrid fungus that swept through and decimated many species.
- No continent on which amphibians occur has been spared the fungus, although some areas, such as Madagascar, are intriguingly free from it.
- And let's not forget Europe, which has its own unique collection of salamanders, newts, frogs and toads including the brilliantly colored fire salamander and the Mallorcan midwife toad, endemic to the Spanish island of Mallorca and which carries its eggs on its back legs.
Every region of the world has its own assortment of unique and endemic species, all important and in need of help.
Everything you can possibly tell me about Conservation International and the lost frogs.
- Matthew from the United States
Hi Matthew, I would visit the website
www.conservation.org/lostfrogs as this contains a wealth of information about the lost frogs campaign including blogs, video and updates. You can also browse the Conservation International website from here to find out all about our work around the world.
What has happened to the ordinary, large frogs in southern New Jersey, U.S.A.?
- Ruth from the United States
Most of the amphibians found in New Jersey breed in swamps, bogs and other water bodies. Runoff from commercial and home fertilizers can affect the water quality and acidity of these breeding pools, having an adverse impact on the amphibians. It is possible that the frogs that you are referring to (there are a number of species that could fit this description!) have been affected by this. Amphibians can be very sensitive to changes in their environment and, sadly, we are changing their environment in ways that they do not always like.
With increased palaeontological discoveries of fossil Holocene frogs in PNG, Solomon Is, Vanuatu and Fiji, what might be clearer reasons for extinction than rodent/land snail predation and habitat loss/disturbance, considering their size?
- Rhys from Australia
Hi Rhys. It is often very hard to determine exactly what has driven something to extinction after the fact – even for species that have gone extinct within the last few years it is hard to say with any certainty what the mechanism was. Habitat loss/disturbance can impact amphibians regardless of size, as can disease. I am not sure that size alone can really tell us what would have driven species to extinction.
Are there endangered and sub-fossil frogs in the Kurile Islands and why haven't there been reported lists of species printed and discussed in Western Literature in recent years discussing these? Was the Giant salamander ever found on Hokkaido and Sakhalin?
- Rhys from Australia
As far as I know, the amphibians recorded from the Kurile Islands include
Bufo gargarizans, Rana amurensis, Rana dybowskii, Salamandrella keyserlingii, Hyla japonica and
Rana chensinensis. None of these are listed as threatened, but accounts of each can be found in the
IUCN redlist. The Japanese Giant salamander occurs in the Chubu, Kinki and Chugoku regions of central and western Honshu, in Shikoku and in northeastern Kyushu. I am not aware of records outside of this range. If you are specifically interested in this species or amphibians of Japan I can connect you with our Japanese colleagues who would be well placed to provide you with this information.
Are there frogs using "antifreeze" in their skins and blood that live on any sub-Antarctic territory of Australia or indeed on the Antarctic continent and peninsulae?
- Rhys from Australia
I do not believe that antifreeze has been isolated from any amphibians other than species living in North America – specifically from wood frogs and spring peepers. There are actually no modern-day amphibians found on Antarctica (although fossils suggest this was not always the case).
Does/ or did Hawai'i and the northwestern archipelago to its nortwest to Midway, ever have sub-fossil frogs or live frogs endemic to the islands?
- Rhys from Australia
No frogs colonized Hawaii naturally – the only frogs that currently occur there, such as the Coqui frog, have been introduced by people.
What is the taxon of extant frog discovered on Great Barrier Is. NZ ?
- Rhys from Australia
The only native frog on the Great Barrier Island is Hochstetter's Frog (Leiopelma hochstetteri)
What can be done to preserve leiopelmatid frogs and provide habitat corridors when endemic wetas, ground-dwelling birds, possibly snails, dairy conversion practices and rabbit-driven predator irruptions eat them?
- Rhys from Australia
New Zealand has a very active conservation group for it's native amphibians – for information on New Zealand's frogs and what can be done to protect them there is no better resource than
http://www.nzfrogs.org/What was the dissolving switch in the stomach of the gastric beeding frog not to dissolve its froglet broods? This would help chemists find a mimic medicine for human ulcers, perhaps.
- Rhys from Australia
The frog first swallows an egg and it is believed that a chemical from the egg triggers the switching off of digestive juices. Beyond this we do not really know the mechanism – this certainly could have helped chemists find a mimic medicine to treat human ulcers. One more reason to try and find these frogs!
Why are the frogs missing?
- Sierra from the United States
The frogs are missing for many different reasons. Some have declined or disappeared as a result of habitat loss and degradation, disease, pollution and predation or competition from introduced species. Some of these species may be missing because nobody has been to look for them – many occur in very remote areas. We need to try and find these species to see if they really are still there and to assess what may have caused them to disappear, or what may be threatening their continued survival.
I would like to know the results of the expedition in Colombia (Sonsón, Mesopotamia)
- Ramiro Velasquez from Colombia
We sadly did not find any of the missing species in Sonsón. We also visited the Chocó region to search for Atelopus chocoensis. We again did not find this species BUT we did find some very interesting species that may be new to science! We will be announcing these very soon.
IN DEPTH: Read Robin's story in Lost Frogs: ColombiaHow many species of amphibians are known to exist, and of these, how many are considered "lost"?
- Abby from the United States
Some 6,723 species of amphibian are known to exist. We compiled a list of 100 "lost" species – those not seen for over a decade. However, as a result of this campaign we have learned of even more species considered to be lost, and some countries are developing their own "Lost Frogs" lists to launch country-specific campaigns in partnership with us. We are excited to be a part of these campaigns to highlight the importance of amphibians in countries of importance for amphibian conservation. It is nice to know that this campaign has sparked interest that will live on and continue to engage scientists and the public.
Bufo or Duttaphrynus- which one is right now?
- Santanu from India
Duttaphrynus is a recognized new genus of toads, so some species are now considered Duttaphrynus rather than Bufo
I want to know more of the characteristics of common frogs which is belong to amphibians.
- Kathleen from the Philippines
Amphibians – frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and caecilians – are ectothermic (meaning they do not have a constant body temperature like we do) animals possessing backbones and moist, scale-less skin through which they absorb water and oxygen. Amphibians typically have four limbs, but not all of them do! The unusual caecilians are in fact limbless, and resemble earthworms.
Miss Pasqualicchio's 5th grade class, Bower Elementary School, United States
A special thanks Miss Pasqualicchio's 5th graders for their very interesting questions. I detect some budding biologists amongst you. Keep asking questions like these and never stop learning (I know I haven't) – the world is a far more colorfulplace for inquisitive minds!
How sharp are a caecilians teeth?
- Ali
Although I have never had personal experience of them, I have heard that they can be quite sharp! They are used to catch slippery creatures such as worms so they need to be able to get a good grip. Only one way to find out I guess…?!
What is your favorite endangered or extinct amphibian?
-Dana
This is a very tough question – there are so many incredible ones to choose from! I have a soft spot for the
gastric brooding frog of Australia. It is very sad losing a species, but even sadder when you lose a unique behavior or characteristic with that species, and that's exactly what happened with the gastric brooding frog. There were two species that developed their eggs in their stomach, giving birth to live froglets through their mouth. This is something I would really have loved to have witnessed. A team will be heading out to look for the gastric brooding frog as part of this search – it is generally accepted that it is extinct but the eternal optimist in me hopes that there may be one hanging on in a remote rainforest stream somewhere!
Are you traveling by plane, boat or car? Where are you staying during the explorations? (In a tent, house or under the stars?)
- Rachel
Every expedition is different, depending on the location and the conditions. Many of these sites are quite remote and will involve a flight, car and then hiking (sometimes long distances) and camping. I will be heading to Haiti on Saturday – we will drive a long way to the mountain, then will hike and camp in the forest. Usually it is quite wet when you look for amphibians – I do not think I would get much sleep under the stars without a tent!
What is the closest relative to the amphibian? (for example - reptile or fish?)
- Sam
Amphibians actually evolved from fishes and reptiles evolved from amphibians about 300 million years ago – so these two groups represent their closest relatives. However, present-day amphibians are quite different from those that evolved from fish, and from the earliest ancestors of reptiles.
What is the most rare amphibian that is or was lost?
- McKenzie
By their very nature, all of the lost amphibians are very rare, and many of them are known from just one or two individuals. Out of the 100 species on the list, we have currently rediscovered 3 and know nothing about the current status of the other 97. Many could be extinct – and it doesn't get much rarer than that!
In your opinion, what is the strangest frog you've found?
- Connor
The glass frogs to me are very strange and beautiful creatures – their skin is transluscent, so you can see their organs, and even their little heart pumping through the skin.
LEARN MORE: Kid's Biology: Glass frogs(photo left: a glass or crystal frog found on the
Nangaritza expedition to Ecuador)
One of the glass frogs that we found during our recent expedition to Colombia had blue "spikes" under his arms. These are apparently used by males for fighting! It is strange that something so delicate has a secret weapon like this. I would love to see them fighting.
Now that you know all about amphibians, what would you like to know about marine mammals? Dr. Greg Stone, CI's Chief Ocean Scientist, will answer your questions next in our "Ask a Scientist" Q&A series. Submit your questions in the box at the right.