Threatened by extinction

Golden toad

This one has long been gone for good: The Golden toad (Bufo periglenes) had been discovered in the 1960s when it lived in Costa Rica's cloud forest. Back then this species was quite common in the area. None has been spotted since 1989.

Threatened by extinction

Panamanian golden frog

This poisonous Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki) is a highly endangered species. In the last 10 years, 80 percent of its population has died off. The chytrid fungus is killing this species.

Threatened by extinction

Fire Salamander

It's not only frogs and toads that are threatened by extinction - salamanders are endangered as well. The Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is not threatened yet because it is common in almost all of Europe. But its population is declining.

Threatened by extinction

Axolotl

The Mexican Salamander Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) spends all of its life in a kind of larval state and breathes with gills even when grown up. It can grow back limbs and some of its organs. It's also threatened with extinction.

Threatened by extinction

Anuran

The Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis species is home in India's southwest. It was only discovered in 2003. Until now, only 135 specimens have been spotted - and only three of them were females.

Threatened by extinction

Bornean flat-headed frog

This water frog lives without lungs and gills. It absorbs oxygen through its skin. Scientists discovered this species in a river in Borneo in 1978. Next to habitat loss, mercury waste from nearby goldmines pose a special threat to its survival.

Threatened by extinction

Tree frog

Amphibians have a soft skin that's permeable to water. This allows them to take in additional oxygen. But this also makes them prone to pollutants. Herbicides, heavy metals and even fertilizers are severely damaging to their health.

Threatened by extinction

Common toad

A lot of amphibians are run over by cars. Once temperatures stop dropping below six degrees Celsius (42.8 degrees Fahrenheit) at night, the bufo bufo begins its spring migration to spawning waters. During its journey, it has to cross many streets, which puts it at risk.

Threatened by extinction

Water frog

As rainforests continue to disappear, amphibians lose their habitat. But frogs and toads also struggle to find spawning waters in Europe, when grasslands are drained and ponds are filled up.

Threatened by extinction

Moor frogs

In pairing season, male moor frogs develop a blue coloration. This species can be found in Europe, China and in the former Soviet Union. The moor frog faces threats from changes to wetland areas. It can no longer be found in Switzerland.

Threatened by extinction

American bullfrog

Not all frog species are disappearing. Numbers of the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) are on the rise. Conservationists aren't enthusiastic about this as the American bullfrog is considered a pest in most places because it preys on other frogs.

Threatened by extinction

Asian toadfrog

We still don’t know all amphibian species that exist today as conservationists regularly discover new ones. Just like this Asian toadfrog (Megophryidae) which was first found in India in 1999. It lives in leaf litter in evergreen tropical forests.

Threatened by extinction

Mini frog

This Paedophryne amauensis is only about seven to eight millimeters in size and is considered the smallest vertebrate worldwide. It was discovered by researchers in Papua New Guinea in 2009. It sounds just like an insect.

Threatened by extinction

Mount Nimba Reed frog

Sometimes there's good news, too: The Mount Nimba Reed frog was considered extinct for many decades. It was rediscovered in 2010. Unfortunately, that's quite the exception as most species labeled extinct keep that label.

Author: Brigitte Osterath /sst | Editor: Nathan Witkop