After five months of searching through swamps, jungles and caves in more than 20 countries, just one ‘lost frog’ has been found in a worldwide search for the world’s missing amphibians.
The Rio Pescado stubfoot toad was found during a night time search by a remote stream in Ecuador.
The striking spotted toad has not been seen since 1995 and the discovery should help to protect the last surviving specimens or stubfoot - or harlequin toads - living in the wild.
But despite the involvement of more than 120 scientists across five continents the search for nine other elusive creatures that make up the world’s top 10 ‘lost amphibians’ proved fruitless.
Dr Robin Moore, of Conservation International, who organised the search, said the results prove that the world is suffering from an ‘extinction crisis’ with colourful breeds like the golden toad of Costa Ric, that was the top of the list, being the first species to go.
“I’m not completely surprised that it was not found, but I’m pretty disappointed. While it does not confirm that the species is extinct, with every unsuccessful search it does become more likely. It is very sad to lose unique species such as this – I feel like the world becomes a little bit less colorful with every one that is lost,” he said.
The American charity, that is backed by Harrison Ford, blamed disease among amphibians, climate change and most importantly habitat loss as forests are cut down and wetland is drained.
However there was a glimmer of hope. Out of a wider list of 100 ‘lost species’, some of which have not been seen for more than 100 years, three were discovered again during the search from August to December 2010.
The Cave Splayfoot Salamander was found underground in Mexico for the first time since 1941, the Mount Nimba Reed Frog was found near a village on the Ivory Coast and the Omaniundu Reed Frog was discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo after more than 30 years.
Also three potentially new species of frogs were discovered in Colombia and six species, that were not initially on the long list, were found in Haiti.
In India five species were rediscovered as part of a sister project that grew out of the CI campaign, the “Lost! Amphibians of India”, including one that was last seen in 1874 and another which was found by pure chance in a rubbish bin.
Dr Moore, 35, from Scotland, who spotted the colourful frog as he was throwing away a banana said amphibians can be found in unexpected places.
He said scientists will keep on searching.
“Rediscoveries provide reason for hope for these species, but the flip side of the coin is that the vast majority of species that teams were looking for were not found. This is a reminder that we are in the midst of what is being called the Sixth Great Extinction with species disappearing at 100 to 1000 times the historic rate - and amphibians are really at the forefront of this extinction wave.
“We need to turn these discoveries and rediscoveries into an opportunity to stem the crisis by focusing on protecting one of the most vulnerable groups of animals and their critical habitats.”
Tags:Rare frog proves glimmer of hope for 'lost amphibians',lost amphibians,lost amphibians wiki,lost amphibians frog,lost amphibians frog stills
However there was a glimmer of hope. Out of a wider list of 100 ‘lost species’, some of which have not been seen for more than 100 years, three were discovered again during the search from August to December 2010.
The Cave Splayfoot Salamander was found underground in Mexico for the first time since 1941, the Mount Nimba Reed Frog was found near a village on the Ivory Coast and the Omaniundu Reed Frog was discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo after more than 30 years.
Also three potentially new species of frogs were discovered in Colombia and six species, that were not initially on the long list, were found in Haiti.
In India five species were rediscovered as part of a sister project that grew out of the CI campaign, the “Lost! Amphibians of India”, including one that was last seen in 1874 and another which was found by pure chance in a rubbish bin.
Dr Moore, 35, from Scotland, who spotted the colourful frog as he was throwing away a banana said amphibians can be found in unexpected places.
He said scientists will keep on searching.
“Rediscoveries provide reason for hope for these species, but the flip side of the coin is that the vast majority of species that teams were looking for were not found. This is a reminder that we are in the midst of what is being called the Sixth Great Extinction with species disappearing at 100 to 1000 times the historic rate - and amphibians are really at the forefront of this extinction wave.
“We need to turn these discoveries and rediscoveries into an opportunity to stem the crisis by focusing on protecting one of the most vulnerable groups of animals and their critical habitats.”
Tags:Rare frog proves glimmer of hope for 'lost amphibians',lost amphibians,lost amphibians wiki,lost amphibians frog,lost amphibians frog stills
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