Kids and Thumbs

What’s an endangered animal and are there amphibians that fall under this category? The answer to the first question would be animals that are dwindling in population so much so that they could become rare or extinct. Thinking about what’s an endangered animal also brings to mind certain amphibians that are considered rare not necessarily because they are endangered but because they are elusive and know how to escape detection and traps.

To the second question, there are many amphibians in the Red List which refers to animals that are critically endangered and some of these rare amphibians are the Chinese Giant Salamander, the Purple Frog, the South African Ghost frog, the olm, the Mexican lungless salamander, Chile’s Darwin frog, and the Gardiner’s Seychelles frog.The Chinese giant salamander is huge! It grows up to 1.8 meters in length and is believed to be one of the oldest species evolving from the Tyrannosaurus Rex of decades ago. It’s still around but in such small numbers to be on the verge of extinction.

The purple frog was first discovered in 2003 in West India. It is extremely difficult to find much more catch and scientists believe that it is either on the brink of extinction or can bury itself deep into the ground for most of the year, thereby eluding humans from seeing them.

The South African ghost frog is in dire need of intervention. The reason it is being threatened with extinction is because humans have been invading its territory. Progress dictates to government agencies that land must be developed. Unfortunately, it is happening at the expense of animals like this ghost frog.

The olm is a blind salamander that also is transparent and clear. Strangely it is becoming extinct because of our use of its habitat. This amphibian can survive without food for 10 years! Obviously, it’s struggling because it cannot survive without its home.

The other amphibians are at risk because of lack of protection and loss of natural habitat. The problems are caused by the same things and so unless something is done to change the way we have to progress, then animals will always be under threat of extinction.

Reference: Illustrated Encyclopedia of endangered animals.