kids encyclopedia robot

List of vulnerable amphibians facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Status iucn3.1 VU
Vulnerable (VU) species are considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Amphibians are amazing creatures like frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. They can live both in water and on land. Sadly, many amphibian species around the world are in danger. In September 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 670 vulnerable amphibian species. This means about 10% of all amphibians they checked are at high risk of disappearing forever in the wild.

The IUCN is a global group that checks on the health of different animal and plant species. They have special rules to decide if a species is "vulnerable." This means there's a serious chance it could become extinct. Even more endangered species, like those listed as "endangered" or "critically endangered," also meet these rules. All these groups are called "threatened species."

Sometimes, there isn't enough information about a species to know if it's in danger. These are called "data deficient" species. About 1567 amphibian species (24% of those checked) are in this group. The IUCN thinks these species might also be threatened because they often live in small areas or have small populations. It's important to pay attention to them, even if we don't know their exact status yet.

This article shares some examples of amphibians that are currently vulnerable.

What Makes Amphibians Vulnerable?

Amphibians face many threats that make them vulnerable. These include losing their homes (habitats) due to human activities like building and farming. Pollution, climate change, and diseases also play a big part. Because amphibians have sensitive skin, they are very affected by changes in their environment. Protecting their habitats and keeping our planet healthy helps these amazing animals survive.

Types of Vulnerable Amphibians

Amphibians are divided into three main groups: salamanders, frogs, and caecilians. Each group has many species that are now considered vulnerable.

Salamanders

There are 93 salamander species listed as vulnerable. Salamanders are known for their long bodies, tails, and four legs. They often look like lizards but have smooth, moist skin.

Lungless Salamanders

Lungless salamanders (family Plethodontidae) are special because they don't have lungs! They breathe through their skin and the lining of their mouths. Many of these salamanders live in moist places like caves or forests.

  • Tamaulipan false brook salamander (Aquiloeurycea scandens)
  • Kings River slender salamander (Batrachoseps regius)
  • San Marcos salamander (Eurycea nana)
  • Monte Albo cave salamander (Speleomantes flavus)

Asiatic Salamanders

Asiatic salamanders (family Hynobiidae) are found in Asia. They often live in cool, damp environments, sometimes near mountain streams.

  • Alpine stream salamander (Batrachuperus tibetanus)
  • Alishan salamander (Hynobius arisanensis)
  • Tokyo salamander (Hynobius tokyoensis)

Mole Salamanders

Mole salamanders (family Ambystomatidae) are mostly found in North America. They spend much of their lives underground, like moles.

Salamandrids (True Salamanders and Newts)

This group (family Salamandridae) includes many well-known salamanders and newts. They are found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

Proteids

The Proteidae family includes the unique Olm (Proteus anguinus). This blind, pale salamander lives in dark caves in Europe.

Torrent Salamanders

Torrent salamanders (family Rhyacotritonidae) are small salamanders found in the Pacific Northwest of North America. They prefer cold, fast-flowing streams.

  • Olympic torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton olympicus)

Frogs

There are 573 frog species assessed as vulnerable. Frogs are known for their powerful jumping legs, bulging eyes, and croaking calls.

Water Frogs

Water frogs (family Telmatobiidae) are often found in South America, living in or near water bodies.

  • Chili water frog (Telmatobius arequipensis)
  • Hocking's water frog (Telmatobius hockingi)

Robber Frogs

Robber frogs (family Eleutherodactylidae) are a very diverse group, mostly found in the Americas. Many of them lay their eggs on land, and the young hatch directly as tiny frogs, skipping the tadpole stage.

Shrub Frogs

Shrub frogs (family Rhacophoridae) are mostly found in Asia and Africa. Many are tree frogs, known for their ability to climb and sometimes even glide.

Cryptic Forest Frogs

Cryptic forest frogs (family Aromobatidae) are small, often brightly colored frogs found in Central and South America. Some are known for their toxic skin.

Fleshbelly Frogs

Fleshbelly frogs (family Craugastoridae) are a large group of frogs found in the Americas. Many live in forests and have direct development, meaning they don't have a free-swimming tadpole stage.

  • Alfred's rainfrog (Craugastor alfredi)
  • Cundinamarca robber frog (Pristimantis affinis)

Glass Frogs

Glass frogs (family Centrolenidae) are famous for their see-through skin on their bellies, which lets you see their internal organs! They live in Central and South American rainforests.

Batrachylids

Batrachylids (family Batrachylidae) are a small group of frogs found in South America.

Litter Frogs

Litter frogs (family Megophryidae) are found in Asia. They often blend in with leaf litter on the forest floor. Many have horn-like projections above their eyes.

Screeching Frogs

Screeching frogs (family Arthroleptidae) are found in Africa. They are often small and live in forests.

Hemiphractids

Hemiphractids (family Hemiphractidae) are unique frogs from Central and South America. Some carry their eggs in pouches on their backs, like marsupials.

Poison Dart Frogs

Poison dart frogs (family Dendrobatidae) are small, often brightly colored frogs from Central and South America. Some species have powerful toxins in their skin.

Mantellids

Mantellids (family Mantellidae) are a large group of frogs found only on the island of Madagascar. They come in many shapes and sizes.

Ceratobatrachids

Ceratobatrachids (family Ceratobatrachidae) are found in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. Many are ground-dwelling frogs.

  • Pomugu wrinkled ground frog (Cornufer akarithymus)
  • Banahao forest frog (Platymantis banahao)

Fork-tongued Frogs

Fork-tongued frogs (family Dicroglossidae) are found in Asia and Africa. Many live near water.

Narrow-mouthed Frogs

Narrow-mouthed frogs (family Microhylidae) are a very large and diverse family found worldwide. They often have small heads and round bodies.

True Frogs

True frogs (family Ranidae) are found almost everywhere in the world. They are often strong jumpers and good swimmers.

Australian Water Frogs

Australian water frogs (family Myobatrachidae) are found in Australia and New Guinea.

Puddle Frogs

Puddle frogs (family Phrynobatrachidae) are small frogs found in Africa. They often live near temporary puddles or streams.

  • Nkongsamba river frog (Phrynobatrachus cricogaster)
  • Yapo river frog (Phrynobatrachus villiersi)

Hylids (Tree Frogs and Allies)

Hylids (family Hylidae) are a very large family, mostly known as tree frogs. They are found in the Americas, Australia, and parts of Asia and Europe.

African Reed Frogs

African reed frogs (family Hyperoliidae) are found in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Many are brightly colored and live in vegetation near water.

Other Vulnerable Frog Species

This section includes other vulnerable frog species from various families.

Caecilians

Caecilians (order Gymnophiona) are limbless amphibians that look like large worms or snakes. They live mostly underground or in water in tropical regions.

Images for kids

  • Status iucn3.1 VU

    Vulnerable (VU) species are considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

See also

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of vulnerable amphibians Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.