The Australian frogs at greatest risk of extinction and what to do about it
New research published in Pacific Conservation Biology has identified the 26 Australian frogs at greatest risk of extinction, the probability of each extinction by 2040, and the actions needed to prevent those extinctions.
The study found that although not yet officially listed as extinct, Queensland’s mountain mist frog and northern tinker frog are very likely to be. No-one has recorded these species in around 30 years and they are very sensitive to the amphibian disease chytridiomycosis.
Another four species are hanging on in the wild but are likely to be extinct by 2040 unless there is effective new action to save them: the southern corroboree frog and Baw Baw frog in the Australian Alps, and the Kroombit tinker frog and armoured mist frog in Queensland.
Five more species, including the mountain top nursery frog, beautiful nursery frog, northern corroboree frog, spotted tree frog and Kroombit tree frog are at moderate risk of extinction by 2040.
- Ms Jaana Dielenberg (NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub), Dr Graeme Gillespie (Northern Territory Government), Dr Conrad Hoskin (James Cook University) and Ms Hayley Geyle (Charles Darwin University).
- Source: https://www.ecolsoc.org.au/news/the-australian-frogs-at-greatest-risk-of-extinction-and-what-to-do-about-it/
