Warty tree frog (Scinax boulengeri), Costa Rica. © Piotr
Naskrecki Scientists believe that ancient amphibians were the
first vertebrates to leave the water and colonize our planet's
shores millions of years ago. Modern-day amphibians – frogs,
toads, newts, salamanders and caecilians – also constitute an
important link between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems,
perpetuating nutrient cycling in their environments. They may be
a food source for larger animals, but amphibians themselves also
control pests, including insects known to be vectors of human
diseases like malaria. Their moist permeable skin makes
amphibians particularly susceptible to environmental changes;
they are consequently considered to be good indicators of
ecosystem health. In recent years, habitat loss, widespread
disease and climate change have caused drastic population
crashes in amphibian populations across the globe. IN DEPTH:
Global Search for 'lost' frogs yields few findings, important
warnings Here are just a few of the many fascinatin