Three "extinct" amphibians rediscovered after decades lost to science

22/09/2010 20:35:20 Lost frogs rediscovered
September 2010. Scientists on a global quest to rediscover "lost" amphibian species have returned from their first set of expeditions having rediscovered three species that had not been seen for decades, Conservation International (CI) and the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG) have announced.

100 lost species being sought
Searches are continuing around the globe for 100 species of amphibians that had been thought to have gone extinct, but that scientists believe may be surviving in small populations. While the discoveries are a cause for celebration as the world prepares for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that will be held in Nagoya, in Japan, next month, they also highlight the shocking decline in the world's amphibian species in recent decades, with more than a third of all amphibians threatened with extinction.

Cave Splayfoot Salamander (Chiropterotriton mosaueri), Hidalgo Province, Mexico. Not seen since the discovery of a single individual in 1941. Pink footed, brown salamander that is believed to live underground in cave systems. Several were found by scientist Sean Rovito from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, in a cave system which is only accessible by abseiling down a large pothole.

3 rediscoveries - 2 frogs and a salamander
The three animals that have been rediscovered so far include a Mexican salamander not seen since it was discovered in 1941, a frog from the Ivory Coast not seen since 1967 and another frog from Democratic Republic of Congo not seen since 1979.

Dr. Robin Moore, who has organized the Search for the Lost Frogs for CI and the ASG said: "These are fantastic finds and could have important implications for people as well as for amphibians. We don't know whether study of these animals could provide new medicinal compounds - as other amphibians have, and at least one of these animals lives in an area that is important to protect as it provides drinking water to urban areas. But these rediscovered animals are the lucky ones - many other species we have been looking for have probably gone for good."

The first phase of the Search for the Lost Frogs campaign will be continuing until the opening of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan in October, with further rediscoveries expected.

Mount Nimba Reed Frog
(Hyperolius nimbae), Ivory Coast. Last Seen in 1967. Small and well camouflaged brown frog rediscovered by local scientist N'Goran Kouame from the University of Abobo-Adjame.