Why Frogs and Salamanders?

-The biggest problem with amphibians (particularly frogs) is Chytrid Fungus. A fungus thought to have been brought back from prehistoric times partially because of pollution. This has killed (pushed to full extinction) over 120 amphibian species in the last 35 years. In this frame of time not a single mammal species has become extinct and only about 5 already rare bird species have been wiped out. Chytrid Fungus clogs up a Frogs skin-the body part it relies on to breathe and soak up water. This kills them.

-Another major problem is habitat destructionbecause of human pollution, overbuilding, and destroying important habitats like rain forests and swamps.-Yet another crucial threat would be Chytridiomycosis which is another disease (like Chytrid Fungus) that has brought over 100 species to pure extinction (in addition to Chytrid Fungus)!

-Some rising problems in the U.S. include Atrazine (petition at http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6000/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2834): A harmful pesticide that turns male frogs into female frogs, Bull Frogs: A great species, just not wanted as an invasive (non-native) species in California where it eats other frogs and gives them Chytrid Fungus (which bull frogs are immune to-not affected by unlike other frogs), and Lake Erie's dropping water levels which affects the Lake Erie Toads.

-Some rising problems internationally include: The Night Spirit Frog, native to Ghana is also endangered (savethefrogs.com/ghana). The Spotted Tree Frog (Australia) is also critically endangered, its native environment being the rocky rough narrow streams in southeastern Australia. Now in only 19 streams, there are under 20,000 of them left on Earth.