Amphibians face extinction

2004-10-18 13:56

Washington - About one third of amphibians are under threat of extinction, according to researchers who carried out a global census.

Climate changes and pollution have been blamed for some of the disappearing species, according to the study published by Science magazine on Friday.

But some are threatened for no apparent reason, according to researchers who carried out the three year Global Amphibian Assessment.

Of the 5 743 known species of toads, frogs, salamanders, newts and worm like amphibians, 1 856 (32.5%) are under threat, according to the work by 500 researchers in 60 countries.

The study was organised by the World Conservation Union, Conservation International and NatureServe.

Among the species, 122 have completely disappeared since 1980 and scientists fear that hundreds more will become extinct in coming decades.

Tropical zones in central and South America have been worst hit, researchers said.

The researchers called for efforts to protect the habitat of amphibians and to reproduce the threatened species in captivity.

- AFP