Ready to fall - Frog Domino

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"

The case of the golden toad was an eye-opener - at least for scientists throughout the world. About 165 amphibian species have become extinct in the past hundred years, while another 250 have gone missing. And the same fate is in store for many others.

The golden toad was a relatively slender toad, measuring about 5 cm. There was a pronounced difference between the genders. The females weren’t just around a centimetre longer and bulkier than the males, their colour difference was so pronounced that it’s hard to believe they even belonged to the same species.

The species presumably became extinct in 1989.

The gastric-brooding frog of Australia - a painful loss of evolutionary excellence.

Its reproductive biology was spectacular: the gastric-brooding frog just swallowed its tadpoles. Even though its habitat in the mountains of Northeastern Australia seems to be completely undisturbed, it has evidently become extinct. The last specimen was spotted in 1985. Now there are plans to clone it back into existence.

Still alive - fabulous Darwin's frog

With its long pointy nose, Chiles Darwin’s frog is one of the world’s most attractive amphibians. But habitat loss and disease are driving it to extinction.

Its reproduction strategy is just as remarkable as it was for the "not still alive" Gastric-brooding frog of Australia. And, there are video recordings of the spectacular "birth" of Darwin's frog - right out of its fathers mouth... To be watched at Frogs & Friends: Darwin's frog

Barking up the wrong tree - a global killer of biodiversity

The timber industry is a key component of Chile’s economy and a major threat for its native species.

If one is searching for reasons, why frogs have such a hard time in Chile, a glimpse at the Chilean timber industry contributes to finding the answer.