News Animals

A global report finds amphibians are still in peril. But it’s not all bad news

A new comprehensive survey provides the latest update on the creatures’ extinction risk trends

One Morona-Santiago stubfoot toad sits on a rock, while another sits on the back of the first toad. The toads have brown and green coloration and yellow eyes.

A new global assessment of amphibians reevaluated the extinction risk of species like Ecuador’s Morona-Santiago stubfoot toads (Atelopus halihelos), which were found to be critically endangered.

© Jaime Culebras/Photo Wildlife Tours

By Anna Gibbs

Nearly 20 years ago, the first global assessment of amphibians found the animals facing widespread declines. Now, a second, updated report shows that many amphibians are still in trouble, but with some silver linings, researchers report October 4 in Nature.