The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has assessed the Mountain Mist Frog as Extinct earlier this month. The frog lived in northeastern Australia in the streams of their rain forests. Sadly, the frog hasn’t been seen since the 1990s. There are a couple reasons for its extinction including Chytrid Fungus, a deadly fungal disease, habitat loss, and climate change. Biggest reason I believe is because the people in power just don’t give a fuck.
The Eastern Red-backed Salamander has a dark gray body with a red stripe down its back. Sometimes, the salamander lacks the red on its back and is just gray in color.
Common Name: Fitzinger’s Robber Frog Scientific Name:Craugastor fitzingeri Family:Craugastoridae Locations: Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama FemaleSize: 2 inches (52.5 mm) Male Size: 0.9 – 1.4 inches (23.5 – 35 mm)
The Fitzinger’s Robber Frog lives in a variety of habitats from rain forests to dry gallery forests. They are primarily found amongst the leaf litter. The species is named after Leopold Fitzinger, an Austrian zoologist.
Females lays around 85 eggs and will sit on the nest until they hatch. They are a direct developing species, skipping a free larval phase.
Common Name:Â Nattarjack Toad Scientific Name:Â Epidalea calamita Location: North Wales coast
The Nattarjack has a bold yellow line down the center of its back, differing from the Common Toad. They are usually smaller than the Common Toad as well.
Common Name:Â African Clawed Frog Scientific Name:Â Xenopus laevis Location: Southern Wales
The African Clawed Frog is a fully aquatic frog that was once used as pregnancy tests in labs. Sadly, some individuals have escaped those labs or were released. These frogs are blamed for the spread of diseases.
The True Toads are your typical toad with warty skin and short legs. They usually have a parotid gland behind their eyes that contain a poison. It is not advised to let your dog eat these guys.
Common Name:Â Nattarjack Toad Scientific Name:Â Epidalea calamita Location: Sand dunes along the Merseyside coast, the Cumbrian coast, and on the Scottish Solway
The Nattarjack has a bold yellow line down the center of its back, differing from the Common Toad. They are usually smaller than the Common Toad as well.
Common Name: Marsh Frog Scientific Name:Pelophylax ridibundus Location: Southeastern part
The Marsh Frog is the largest frog native to Europe but sadly, they have been introduced to England. Their size allows them to predate on native species.
Common Name: Purple Harlequin Toad or Purple Fluorescent Frog Scientific Name:Atelopus barbotini Family:Bufonidae – True Toad family Locations: French Guiana Size: 1 – 1.3 inches (25 – 34 mm)
Species or sub-species? That is the main question for the Purple Harlequin Toad. They were considered / still are a subspecies of the Pebas Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus spumarius). Two different papers have shown that the Purple Harlequin Toad and the Pebas Stubfood Toad are not the same species. Though one of the papers argued that they are a subspecies of Cayenne Stubfoot Toad (Atelopus flavescens). But then there’s more. Another group of researchers has shown that the toad is part of the Hoogmoed’s Harlequin Frog (Atelopus hoogmoedi) species complex. At the end of the day, who care’s? It’s really cute.
photo by Christopher McHale
The International Union for the Conservation has not assessed the species because they don’t believe it is an independent species. However, the toad isn’t doing well. The whole genus Atelopus has been decimated by Chytrid Fungus, a deadly fungal disease. On top of that, deforestation and gold mining isn’t helping any of them.