Amphibians, the group of animals that inhabit both land and water, are currently experiencing significant threats worldwide, primarily due to climate change. This has been revealed in a study published in the Nature journal, titled “Ongoing declines for the world’s amphibians in the face of emerging threats.” The research was conducted by the Amphibian Red List Authority, a branch of the Amphibian Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission.
Evaluation of Extinction Risk
The researchers undertook an assessment of the extinction risk of over 8,000 amphibian species from around the globe, including 2,286 species that had never before been evaluated. Their findings show that two out of every five amphibian species, or 40.7%, are currently threatened with extinction. In comparison, only 26.5% of mammals, 21.4% of reptiles, and 12.9% of birds face similar threats. Further, between 2004 and 2022, over 300 amphibian species have inched closer to extinction, primarily due to climate change, the main menace for 39% of these species.
Extinct Amphibian Species
The study discovered that four amphibian species have gone extinct since 2004. These include the Chiriquí harlequin toad from Costa Rica, the sharp-snouted day frog from Australia, and Craugastor myllomyllon and the Jalpa false brook salamander, both originating from Guatemala.
Hotspots for Threatened Amphibians
The regions harbouring the highest concentrations of endangered amphibians were identified as the Caribbean islands, Mexico and Central America, the tropical Andes, India’s Western Ghats, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Madagascar.
Human Impact on Amphibian Habitats
Habitat destruction and degradation due to human activities, such as agriculture and infrastructure development, pose significant threats to amphibians, affecting 93% of all threatened species.
Threats from Disease and Overexploitation
Disease caused by the chytrid fungus and overexploitation also play a significant role in the decline of amphibian populations. These factors, along with habitat loss, resulted in 91% of status deteriorations between 1980 and 2004. Currently, climate change effects are the primary concern, causing 39% of status deterioration since 2004, followed closely by habitat loss at 37%.
Salamander Status: World’s Most Threatened Amphibians
Salamanders, which are highly susceptible to habitat destruction and climate change, are recognized as the world’s most threatened group of amphibians, with three out of five species facing extinction.
Conservation Action for Amphibians
The study’s findings are planned to be utilized to create a global conservation action plan, prioritize conservation efforts, garner additional resources, and influence policies that can help reverse the negative trend for amphibians.
About Amphibians
Amphibians, which include frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians, are multicellular vertebrates belonging to the Chordata phylum of the kingdom Animalia. They are cold-blooded animals, meaning they cannot regulate their internal body temperature based on environmental changes. Their respiration is facilitated via lungs and skin, and they are endowed with three-chambered hearts.
Significance of Amphibians
Amphibians serve as vital ecological indicators due to their high sensitivity to environmental changes. They are important biological indicators and crucial for the wider health of ecosystems. This group of animals also plays a significant role as both predator and prey in the ecosystem, contributing to pest control and disease prevention. The skin of amphibians contains different types of peptides, offering potential medical cures for numerous human diseases.
