The Philippine Islands have long been known as a hotspot of biodiversity. Until recently, though, scientists had an incomplete understanding of the extent of reptile and amphibian diversity in Mindanao,…
From the remote mountains of Oaxaca in Mexico, scientists have described three new species of miniature salamanders that are smaller than a matchstick. These tiny creatures belong to the elusive…
In a swamp, just six miles away from the Newcastle airport in New South Wales, Australia, scientists have discovered a new species of frog that is only slightly bigger than a…
Global average temperatures have risen by about 1°C since 1880. But just one degree of human-induced warming has impacted nearly all aspects of life on our planet, concludes a new…
If current trends persist, the population abundance of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish could decline an average of 67 percent by 2020. That’s one of several sobering findings detailed…
A rare tree frog species is believed to be extinct after the death of its last living member. “Toughie,” the last-known Rabbs' fringe-limbed tree frog, was found dead in his…
Deforestation is pressing further into a protected area in central Peru, finds a recent analysis by the Monitoring the Andean Amazon Project (MAAP). Satellite data and images show areas of…
The world of amphibians has a new official member, with a species of rain frog discovered recently in and near Tingo Maria National Park in Peru's central Andes. The new…
India is home to iconic wildlife like tigers, dholes and even lions, as well as many species found nowhere else in the world. But they share the subcontinent with the…
Japan's natural hot springs, or onsen, are frequented by locals and visitors alike, who relax in the year-round steaming water in public bathhouses. As it turns out, they’re not the…
It’s well known that when forests are converted to palm oil plantations, biodiversity suffers. But oil palm trees only last for about 25 to 30 years, at which point they…
This is the first of 20 Mongabay stories highlighting Almost Famous Asian Animals — all to be published by the end of 2016. You can find the complete Almost Famous…
Clumps of frog eggs are often easy meals for snakes and wasps. But some baby frogs have evolved a strategy to avoid being eaten. Take the red-eyed treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas)…
In the forests of Western Ghats in India, scientists claim to have discovered a surprising new mating position in a group of frogs, one that has never been reported before.…
A little-known group of amphibians — the Southeast Asian newts — are in high demand as pets, a new study has found. Large numbers of these semi-aquatic salamanders are being…
Disease, habitat loss, and rising global temperatures are taking their toll on the world’s amphibians. There are roughly 7,000 species of amphibian in the world, and as many as half…
Author's note: The data that underpins this post is updated on a regular basis on Mongabay's rainforest site: Amphibians, Birds, Fish, Mammals, Reptiles, Vascular Plants. September 26, 2021 update: this…
This year’s Whitley Awards -- often referred to as the “Green Oscars” -- has been given to seven conservationists chosen from a pool of over 120 applicants from 53 countries…
In the mountainous rainforests of India's Western Ghats lives a unique family of dancing frogs. Now, scientists have discovered they have yet another surprising distinction – their tadpoles live underground. The…
One aim of conservation projects is to protect wild habitats and prevent species extinction. But managing natural resources is complex. Despite striving for years, conservation groups -- both big and…
Madagascar’s unique wildlife may be in serious trouble. An invasive poisonous toad, called the Asian toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), is rapidly spreading across the island country, threatening the survival of its…
Brian pushes off from the rock wall, surfing along the pool's surface before plunging into its depths. Legs outstretched, Brian seizes a fish and swims quickly under a rock to…
Leap Day only happens every four years but when the next one comes around, the planet may have lost a few more frog species: amphibians are the most endangered group…
New research shows how soil carbon could be the key to protecting endangered species and reining in global emissions of greenhouse gases at the same time. Worldwide, we’re spending less…
In the island country of Taiwan, researchers have identified two new species of tree frogs with jewel-colored eyes. The tadpoles of these frogs display a strange reproductive behavior: the tadpole…
adagascar is rich in amphibian species. It boasts 500 species of frog, almost all endemic, with more likely undiscovered. That diversity could be in immediate jeopardy due to the chytrid…
Contrary to reports of declining biodiversity in protected tropical forests, the authors of an extensive study published this week in the journal PLOS Biology say they found no evidence of…
rom 1970 to 2010, the world’s populations of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish shrunk by about 52 percent. China is right in the middle of the global pack with…
No one can say exactly when Volcán Cotopaxi will erupt again, but the volcano remains active ever since it erupted last year for the first time in nearly 140 years.…
An accidental discovery late one night in the forests of northeastern India has led to an entirely new genus of tree frogs, one that does some really strange things. The…