A Hyalinobatrachium sp frog is shown in an herpetologist lab in this undated photo taken in Quito, Ecuador. Epibatidine — the chemical which paralyzed and killed enemies of the Indians in what is now Ecuador — has been isolated to produce a pain killer 200 times more powerful than morphine, but without that drug’s addictive and toxic side effects. (Stringer/Reuters)

Carlos Andrade, Reuters, :

“Frogs and toads are becoming extinct all over the world. It’s the same magnitude event as the extinction of the dinosaurs,” said Luis Coloma, a herpetologist, or scientist dedicated to studying reptiles and amphibians, in Ecuador — the country with the third-greatest diversity of amphibians.

The thumb-sized jungle-dwelling phantasmal poison frog is an example of amphibian good looks, despite its macabre associations. It is bright red with fluorescent green stripes.

At least two out of five of the 3,046 amphibian types in the Americas — home to 53 percent of known species — are threatened with extinction, according to a recent report titled “Disappearing Jewels” by lobby group NatureServe.


QUITO, Ecuador (Reuters) - Before the arrival of Spanish colonizers some 500 years ago, Indians in what is now Ecuador dipped their arrowheads in venom extracted from the phantasmal poison frog to doom their victims to convulsive death, scientists believe.

More recently, epibatidine — the chemical which paralyzed and killed the Indians’ enemies — has been isolated to produce a pain killer 200 times more powerful than morphine, but without that drug’s addictive and toxic side effects.

Pharmaceutical companies have not yet brought epibatidine to market but hope to discover other chemicals with powerful properties in frogs, which are a traditional source of medicine and food for many of Ecuador’s Indians.

They may want to hurry because the treasure trove of the world’s frogs and toads is disappearing at a catastrophic rate. And it’s not just potential medicines which could be vanishing but creatures of beauty.

“Frogs and toads are becoming extinct all over the world. It’s the same magnitude event as the extinction of the dinosaurs,” said Luis Coloma, a herpetologist, or scientist dedicated to studying reptiles and amphibians, in Ecuador — the country with the third-greatest diversity of amphibians.

The thumb-sized jungle-dwelling phantasmal poison frog is an example of amphibian good looks, despite its macabre associations. It is bright red with fluorescent green stripes.

At least two out of five of the 3,046 amphibian types in the Americas — home to 53 percent of known species — are threatened with extinction, according to a recent report titled “Disappearing Jewels” by lobby group NatureServe.

Nine amphibians, including eight frogs and a salamander, have become extinct in the Americas in the last 100 years, including five since 1980, according to the report. Scientists have also been unable to find representatives of another 117 species, which are also possibly extinct.

VARIOUS CAUSES

Toads and frogs are dying out under pressure from the expansion of agriculture, forestry, pollution, disease and climate change, NatureServe said.

“Amphibians are disappearing before our eyes,” the report said.

Scientists fear they could be indicator species — a sign of possible future damage to other parts of the ecosystem because frogs and toads are especially vulnerable and thus are the first to disappear.

“Disappearing amphibians break links in the food chain, with often unpredictable effects on other organisms,” the report said.

Governments should strengthen controls at existing nature reserves and encourage the breeding of endangered species in captivity if they are to save frogs, NatureServe says.

They should also foster research on the recently discovered chytrid fungal disease, which is killing frogs, and educate the public about the plight of amphibians, it said.

“We have to change the idea that they are ugly and slimy. They are beautiful, diverse species, just like hummingbirds or butterflies,” said Martin Bustamante, herpetologist at Ecuador’s Catholic University.

The Catholic University possesses one of the largest collections of captive live frogs in the Americas, and, to boost public awareness of frogs and toads and their tribulations, it recently staged an exhibition of some of its charges in the capital Quito.

The jungles and mountains of Ecuador are home to 417 species of frogs and toads, of which more than a third are classed as vulnerable or in critical danger of extinction. In the Americas, only Colombia and Mexico are home to more endangered amphibians, according to NatureServe.

Email Story
IM Story
Discuss
Printable View
RECOMMEND THIS STORY
Recommend It:
Average (709 votes)

» Recommended Stories
Full Coverage: Environment & Nature
News Stories
Colleges Compete to Shrink Their Mark On the Environment at The Washington Post (reg. req’d) Jun 26
Alewives’ Run Lures Spectators, Birds AP via Yahoo! News Jun 25
U.S. Court Backs Bush’s Changes on Clean Air Act at The New York Times (reg. req’d) Jun 25
Researchers Say Ocean Evidence Points to a Million-Year El Niño at The New York Times (reg. req’d) Jun 24
Feature Articles
The Race to Alaska Before It Melts at The New York Times (reg. req’d) Jun 26
More Americans Hunting for Mushrooms AP via Yahoo! News Jun 25
Opinion & Editorials
Deep Blue Farms at The Los Angeles Times (reg. req’d) Jun 26
Not Just a Win for Bugs at The Washington Post (reg. req’d) Jun 25
Science News
Panel: NASA Fails to Meet Safety Test AP
Hubble Captures Dust Plume Images AP
Researchers Release Rare Turtles in Ga. AP
Scientists: Cod Off Nova Scotia Declining AP
Timing of Next Indonesia Tsunami a Mystery AP
Most Viewed - Science
Heat wave alert as southern Europe bakes AFP
Panel: NASA Fails to Meet Safety Test AP
Space Ring Could Shade Earth and Stop Global Warming SPACE.com / LiveScience.com
Mystery of World’s Fastest-growing Lakes Solved SPACE.com / LiveScience.com
Hubble Captures Dust Plume Images AP

Reuters Photo: A Hyalinobatrachium sp frog is shown in an herpetologist lab in this undated photo taken…
Add headlines to your personalized My Yahoo! page
Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.