The AmphibiaWeb Watch List is a list of extinct and endangered amphibian species from around the world. We have separated species into three categories, two of which are based on the IUCN Red List criteria. These categories are extinct, îmissing in actionî, and critically endangered. If anyone has recent information about any of the species listed below, please write to AmphibiaWeb.
Update: September 11, 2008. Litoria lorica, the Armoured Mist-Frog, has been rediscovered in Australia, and moved from the Missing in Action section to the Critically Endangered section (see below).
Isthmohyla rivularis, a tiny treefrog, has been found in Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Costa Rica (see Critically Endangered section below). This species was thought extinct two decades ago.
The following species of amphibians are thought to have gone extinct recently. Extinction is difficult to determine. The IUCN red list of threatened species defines a taxon as extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. Based on this criterion a taxon is presumed extinct when exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal, annual), and throughout its historic range have failed to record an individual. Here we are conservative in classifying a species as extinct and therefore, several species that may in fact be extinct are listed as ìmissing in actionî.The following species are "missing in action", meaning they have not been seen in the wild for several years and are possibly extinct. If anyone has recent information, please write to AmphibiaWeb.Australia
Taudactylus diurnus (Southern Day Frog) (IUCN-ASH Workshop: Assessing the Conservation Status of Australian Frogs, February 2001)
Rheobatrachus vitellinus (Northern Gastric-Brooding Frog, Northern Platypus Frog) (IUCN-ASH Workshop: Assessing the Conservation Status of Australian Frogs, February 2001)
Rheobatrachus silus (Gastric-Brooding Frog, Southern Platypus Frog) (IUCN-ASH Workshop: Assessing the Conservation Status of Australian Frogs, February 2001)Costa Rica
Bufo periglenes (Golden Toad; Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)Honduras
Eleutherodactylus chrysozetetes (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)
Eleutherodactylus milesi (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)Israel and Syrian Arab Republic
Discoglossus nigriventer (IUCN Red list 1996)Kenya
Arthroleptides dutoiti (IUCN Red list 1996)Mexico
Ambystoma lermaense (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)
Rana tlaloci (IUCN Red list 1996)
The following species are considered critically endangered and are at an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Many of the following species have experienced local population extinctions throughout their ranges and may possibly be extinct. Again, please contact us with new information.Australia
Litoria nyakalensis (Mountain Mist Frog) (last seen April, 1990; Hero, 2002)
Taudactylus acutirostris (Sharp-snouted Day Frog ) (last seen January, 1997; Hero, 2002)
Litoria castanea (Yellow-spotted Tree Frog) (last seen 1975; Global Amphibian Assessment, 2001)
Litoria piperata (Peppered Tree Frog) (last seen 1973; Global Amphibian Assessment, 2001)
Brazil
The following species are missing from the Atlantic forests of Brazil (pers. comm. C. Haddad, 2002):
Colostethus olfersioides
C. carioca
Hyla cymbalum
Megaelosia lutzae
Paratelmatobius gaigeae
Paratelmatobius mantiqueira
Physalaemus maculiventris
Thoropa petropolitanaCosta Rica and Panama
Hyla calypsa (This recently described frog, which occurs in the border region of Costa Rica and Panama, has disappeared from sites where it had been studied for many years and it may be extinct; Lips, K. 1999).Ecuador
Atelopus arthuri(last seen in 1988; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Atelopus bomolochos (last seen in 1993; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Atelopus elegans(last seen in 1994; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Atelopus ignescens (last seen in 1988; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Atelopus longirostris (last seen in 1986; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Atelopus mindoensis (last seen in 1989; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Atelopus pachydermus (last seen in 1996; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Atelopus planispina (last seen in 1983; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Atelopus guanujo (last seen in 1988; Coloma, 2002)
Atelopus nanay (last seen in 1989; Coloma, 2002)
Atelopus sp. C (aff. ignescens) (last seen in 1993; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Osornophryne talipes (last seen in 1970; Cannatella, 1986)
Centrolene buckleyi (last seen in 1997; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Colostethus jacobuspetersi (last seen in 1990; Coloma 1995)
Colostethus lehmanni (last seen in 1990; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Colostethus delatorreae (last seen in 1989; Coloma, 1995)
Colostethus fuliginosus (last seen in 1977; Coloma, 1995)
Colostethus vertebralis (last seen in 1997; Coloma, 1995)
Dendrobates abditus (last seen in 1974; Myers and Daly, 1976)
Gastrotheca guentheri (last seen in 1989; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Telmatobius niger (last seen in 1994; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Telmatobius vellardi (last seen in 1987; Museo ZoologÌa, PUCE)
Eleutherodactylus modipeplus (last seen in 1970; Coloma, 1992)
Nelsonophryne aequatorialis (last seen in 1989; Coloma, 1992)Honduras
J. McCranie (Pers. Comm., September, 2001), reports that frogs that utilize streams or live near streams are virtually gone from all areas of Honduras above 1000 m in elevation, even in protected areas.Eleutherodactylus anciano
Eleutherodactylus cruzi
Eleutherodactylus fecundus
Eleutherodactylus omoaensisPuerto Rico
Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti (last seen in 1974, Joglar and Burrowes, 1996)
Eleutherodactylus jasperi (last seen in 1981, Joglar and Burrowes, 1996)
Eleutherodactylus eneidae (last seen in 1984, Joglar and Burrowes, 1996)
Venezuela
All of these frogs have not been seen for the past 5 years and are possibly all extinct (Barrio, 2001; FrogLog 47).Atelopus carbonerensis
A. cruciger
A. mucubajiensis
A. oxyrhynchus
A. pinangoi
A. sorianoi
A. tamaensis
Phyllomedusa medinai has not been seen since 1974 and is probably extinct (Barrio, 2001; FrogLog 47).
Aromobates nocturnus has not been found recently despite intensive search (Barrio, 2001; FrogLog 47).
Bolitoglossa borburata, a salamander formerly common at Rancho Grande biological station in Venezuela can no longer be found there (Barrio, 2001; FrogLog 47).
Australia
The following species are critically endangered (IUCN-ASH Workshop: Assessing the Conservation Status of Australian Frogs, February 2001):Litoria booroolongensis
Litoria lorica (Armoured Mist Frog) (A population of this species has just been reported from the Carbine Tableland in Sept. 2008, discovered by researchers at the James Cook University. It had last been seen in 1991. The population is infected with chytrid but appears to be persisting in spite of the fungus.
L. spenceri
L. verreauxii aplina
Philoria frosti
Pseudophryne corroboree
Pseudophryne pengilleyi
Taudactylus rheophilus
Taudactylus pleione
Taudactylus eungellensis
Geocrinia alba
Litoria brevipalmata
Litoria nannotis
Litoria raniformis
Litoria rheocola
Nyctimystes dayi
Mixophyes fleayi
Mixophyes iteratusBrazil
These species are considered to be endangered from the Atlantic forests (pers. comm. C. Haddad, 2002).Hylodes glaber
Hylodes regius
Eleutherodactylus holti
Melanophryniscus moreirae
Thoropa lutzi
Megaelosia boticarianaCosta Rica and Panama (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)
Atelopus chiriquiensis
Atelopus varius (Harlequin Frog, it was once thought to be extinct in Costa Rica but a few small populations were recently discovered. There are also a few extant populations in Panama.)
Bufo fastidiosus
Duellmanohyla uranochroa
Hyla angustilineata
Hyla debilis
Rana vibicariaCosta Rica only (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)
Atelopus senex
Bufo holdridgei
Eleutherodactylus andi
Eleutherodactylus angelicus
Eleutherodactylus escoces
Eleutherodactylus fleischmanni
Isthmohyla rivularis This treefrog, native to Costa Rica and Panama, has been rediscovered in Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve by a BBC/Manchester Museum team.
Oedipina altura
Oedipina paucidentataPanama only (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)
Oedipina maritimaEl Salvador
Bolitoglossa synoria also found in Honduras (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)Guatemala (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)
Duellmanohyla soralia also found in Honduras
Hyla dendrophasma
Hyla perkinsi
Hyla salvaje also found in Honduras
Plectrohyla tecunumani
Bolitoglossa jacksoni
Bradytriton silus
Cryptotriton monzoni
Dendrotriton cuchumatanus
Pseudoeurycea exspectataHonduras (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)
Hyalinobatrachium crybetes
Duellmanohyla salvavida
Duellmanohyla soralia also found in Guatemala
Hyla insolitus
Hyla salvaje also found in Guatemala
Plectrohyla chrysopleura
Plectrohyla dasypus
Eleutherodactylus anciano
Eleutherodactylus coffeus
Eleutherodactylus cruzi
Eleutherodactylus fecundus
Eleutherodactylus olanchano
Eleutherodactylus omoaensis
Eleutherodactylus saltuarius
Bolitoglossa carri
Bolitoglossa decora
Bolitoglossa diaphora
Bolitoglossa longissima
Bolitoglossa synoria
Cryptotriton nasalis
Nototriton lignicolaIndia
From the Biodiversity Conservation Prioritization Projects (BCPP), Conservation Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) for amphibians of India, April 1997 (CAMP-Amphibians).Bufoides meghalayanus (Yazdani and Chanda)
Indotyphlus battersbyi Taylor
Limnonectes mawphlangensis (Pillai and Chanda)
Fejervarya mysorensis
Pedostibes kempi (Boulenger)
Philautus garo (Boulenger)
Philautus kempiae (Boulenger)
Philautus shillongensis (Pillai and Chanda)
Rana senchalensis ChandaItaly
Euproctus platycephalus (IUCN Red List 1996)Mexico (Global Amphibian Assessment 2003)
Bufo cristatus
Hyla calvicollina
Hyla celata
Hyla cyanomma
Hyla mixe
Hyla pachyderma
Hyla siopela
Hyla trux
Hyla valancifer
Plectrohyla pycnochila
Eleutherodactylus dixoni
Eleutherodactylus grandis
Eleutherodactylus megalotympanum
Eleutherodactylus pozo
Eleutherodactylus saltator
Rana johni
Rana pueblae
Rana tlaloci
Ambystoma altamirani
Ambystoma amblycephalum
Ambystoma andersoni
Ambystoma bombypellum
Ambystoma dumerilii
Ambystoma granulosum
Ambystoma leorae
Ambystoma lermaense
Ambystoma mexicanum
Ambystoma taylori
Chiropterotriton magnipes
Chiropterotriton mosaueri
Ixalotriton niger
Ixalotriton parvus
Pseudoeurycea aquatica
Pseudoeurycea naucampatepetl
Pseudoeurycea nigromaculata
Thorius aureus
Thorius magnipes
Thorius minutissimus
Notophthalmus meridionalisPhilippines
From the 1999 meeting of the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines (WCSP). Results of this meeting have been incorporated into the IUCN Red List of Threatened species.Platymantis hazelae
Platymantis insulata
Platymantis isarog
Platymantis levigata
Platymantis negrosensis
Platymantis polillensis
Platymantis spelaeaPuerto Rico
Eleutherodactylus wightmanae (last seen in El Yunque reserve in 1992, but present elsewhere on island; Joglar and Burrowes, 1996).
Eleutherodactylus richmondi (last seen in El Yunque reserve in 1991, but present elsewhere on island; Joglar and Burrowes, 1996).
Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti
Eleutherodactylus locustus (not seen in El Yunque reserve after 1990, Joglar and Burrowes, 1996).
Eleutherodactylus portoricensis (Joglar and Burrowes, 1996).
Eleutherodactylus gryllus (Joglar and Burrowes, 1996).
Eleutherodactylus hedricki (Joglar and Burrowes, 1996).
Eleutherodactylus monensis (extant on Mona Island, near Puerto Rico; considered to be at risk by Joglar and Burrowes, 1996).Spain
Alytes muletensis (IUCN Red List 1996)United States
Batrachoseps aridus (IUCN Red List 1996)
Bufo baxteri (Near extinction in Wyoming, USA; captive breeding and reintroductions underway).
Rana onca (Relict Leopard Frog) USA (This frog, formerly called Rana fisheri (Vegas Valley Leopard Frog), was thought to be extinct (IUCN red list 1996) but recently some populations in Black Canyon, south of Hoover Dam, have been assigned to this species by Jaeger, et al. Copeia, 2001:339-350. The populations are small and the species is highly vulnerable, but extant).Venezuela
The following species have suffered alarming declines and are likely to become extinct in the near future (Barrio, 2001; FrogLog 47).Atelopus chrysocorallus
Metaphryniscus sosai,
Oreophrynella nigra,
Oreophrynella vasquezi,
Centrolene gorzulai,
Cochranella castroviejoi,
C. duidaeana,
C. riveroi,
C. vozmedianoi,
Hyalinobatrachium auyantepuianum,
Mannophryne lamarcai ,
M. riveroi,
Stefania evansi,
S. ginesi,
S. goini,
S. marahuaquensis,
S. oculosa,
S. percristata,
S. riae
S. riveroi
S. satelles
S. scalae
S. schuberti
S. tamacuarina
Hyla amicorum
H. aromatica
H. inparquesi
H. loveridgei
H. yaracuyana
Tepuihyla aecii
T. edelcae
T. galani
T. luteolabris
T. rimarum
L. magistris
Dischidodactylus colonnelloi
D. duidensis
Eleutherodactylus anotis
E. avius
E. boconoensis
E. cantitans
E. cavernibardus
E. colostichos
E. lancinii
E. memorans
E. pruinatus
E. reticulatus
E. riveroi
E. stenodiscus
E. turumiquirensis
E. yaviensis
Otophryne steyermarki
Bolitoglossa spongai
Microcaecilia rabei