3000 new species of amphibians over the past 25 years

Rhett A. Butler / mongabay.com

Over the past 25 years, scientists have discovered 3000 new species of amphibians!  This increase has brought the number of known amphibians to a total of 7000 species.

  • In these past 25 years, on average, 1 new species of amphibian is discovered every two and a half days, with 100 new species already having been discovered in 2012.
  • While today we continue to discover new species, this may quickly change in years to come.
  • Climate change, habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, capturing, and disease are all things that have sent amphibian populations into a whirlwind of decline.
  • Over 150 species since the early 1980’s are known to have gone extinct, with 40% of the surviving amphibians at risk.
  • With species going extinct at this rate, it is very important to work towards the conservation of the amphibian population.

Want to learn more?  Read the full story: 3000 new species of amphibians over the past 25 years

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