Angelshark

Squatina squatina

The Angelshark is an ambush predator, relying on camouflage to surprise its prey.

Pig-nosed Turtle

Carettochelys insculpta

The pig-nosed turtle is prehistoric. This turtle diverged from all other species more than 140 million years ago.

Chinese Giant Salamander

Andrias davidianus

The largest amphibian in the world, this salamander can grow to the size of an adult human.

Pillar Coral

Dendrogyra cylindrus

Pillar coral possesses one of the most distinct morphologies of any coral.

Pygmy Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus pygmaeus

The smallest of the all the sloth species, the pygmy sloth was only described in 2001

Philippine Eagle

Pithecophaga jefferyi

The Philippine Eagle is one of the world’s largest, most powerful birds of prey.

TOP 100 EDGE Amphibians

More about Amphibians

Species Group

Archey’s Frog

Leiopelma archeyi

Archey’s frog is the world’s most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered amphibian species.

Conservation Attention

Good

Chinese Giant Salamander

Andrias davidianus

The Chinese giant salamander is the world’s largest amphibian, growing up to 1.8 metres long, with a large tail comprising almost 60% of the body length.

Conservation Attention

Good

Purple Frog

Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis

The purple frog (or pig-nosed frog) spends much of its life underground, emerging briefly for a few days each year at the start of the monsoons to breed.

Conservation Attention

Low

Seychelles Palm Frog

Sechellophryne pipilodryas

The Critically Endangered Seychelles palm frog was only described as a new species in 2002, and details of its breeding behaviour are currently unknown.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Thomasset’s Seychelles Frog

Sooglossus thomasseti

Thomasset’s frog is the largest of the Seychelles’ native frogs, reaching a maximum length of 55 mm, and is Critically Endangered.

Conservation Attention

Low

Mount Oku Caecilian

Crotaphatrema lamottei

The Mount Oku caecilian occurs in an area of just 49km²!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Kroombit Tinker Frog

Taudactylus pleione

The Kroombit tinker frog is a small frog from northeastern Australia that reaches lengths of only 2.5 cm.

Conservation Attention

Low

Northern Tinker Frog

Taudactylus rheophilus

The Critically Endangered Northern tinker frog is relatively small, growing to a maximum length of only 3 cm.

Conservation Attention

Low

Sharp Snouted Day Frog

Taudactylus acutirostris

With only three individuals reported since 1994, there is doubt as to whether this species is still surviving in the wild.

Conservation Attention

Low

Eungella Day Frog

Taudactylus eungellensis

Until January 1985, this species was considered to be common across its range. However, it was at this time the first indications of decline were recorded, first at lower altitudes and then throughout the whole range.

Conservation Attention

Low

Barrio’s Frog

Insuetophrynus acarpicus

Barrio’s frogs are powerful and fast moving, often jumping to the middle of a stream and seeking shelter under submerged stones or along the stream bank if threatened.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Table Mountain Ghost Frog

Heleophryne rosei

The Critically Endangered Table Mountain ghost frog is found only on the slopes of Table Mountain, South Africa, occupying an area of only 4 km².

Conservation Attention

Medium

Hula Painted Frog

Latonia nigriventer

The Critically Endangered Hula painted frog, of Israel, was believed extinct until its rediscovery in November 2011.

Conservation Attention

Low

Redbelly Egg Frog

Leptodactylodon erythrogaster

The redbelly egg frog is known only from a tiny area of the Cameroonian Highlands. This species has been found in a variety of places within its montane forest habitat, including streams, ground holes, humus, gravel, root masses and dense undergrowth.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Bamboutos Egg Frog

Leptodactylodon axillaris

This Critically Endangered frog is one of around 15 species collectively known as “egg frogs”, and can be found in the Bamenda Highlands of western Cameroon.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Wild’s Egg Frog

Leptodactylodon wildi

Wild’s egg frog was described in 2000, but little is known about this Critically Endangered EDGE species.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Northern Darwin’s Frog

Rhinoderma rufum

The Northern Darwin’s frog is one of only two frogs in the world which exhibit ‘mouth brooding’ parental care, whereby the young undergo part of their development in the parent’s mouth. It is possible this species is now extinct.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Bale Mountains Treefrog

Balebreviceps hillmani

When threatened, this Critically Endangered frog inflates its body with air and stands raised on outstretched limbs to appear larger.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Togo Slippery Frog

Conraua derooi

Reaching moderate sizes of 75-85 mm, it is not immediately obvious that the Togo slippery frog is a close relative of the world’s largest frog, the Goliath frog.

Conservation Attention

Low

Fujian Frog

Glandirana minima

The Fujian frog is one of only five species in its genus, Glandirana, and is endemic to the eastern parts of the Fujian province, China.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Finca Chiblac Salamander

Bradytriton silus

The Critically Endangered Finca Chiblac salamander had not been recorded for over 30 years until its rediscovery in 2009.

Conservation Attention

Low

Bornean Flat-headed Frog

Barbourula kalimantanensis

The Endangered Bornean flat-headed frog is the world’s only known lungless frog, and respires entirely through its skin!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Paramo Toad

Nannophryne cophotis

Preciously an abundant species the Paramo toad is now considered to be uncommon and hasn’t been seen on any surveys since 2005!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Toad-skinned Frog

Walkerana phrynoderma

The Critically Endangered toad-skinned frog is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. The family of frogs to which this species belongs diverged from all other amphibians over 80 million years ago.

Conservation Attention

Low

Gundia Indian Frog

Indirana gundia

The Critically Endangered Gundia Indian frog is a ground-dwelling species, living on the forest floor of a single, small area of the Western Ghats.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Rhombophryne matavy

The Critically Endangered Rhombophryne matavy is thought to be endemic to the Forêt d’Ambre Special Reserve in the extreme north of Madagascar.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Ayacucho Andes Frog

Oreobates pereger

The Critically Endangered Ayacucho Andes frog is endemic to Peru, where it inhabits montane cloud forests.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Two-lined Caecilian

Rhinatrema shiv

The two-lined caecilian lives in just 777km²!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Richmond’s Coqui

Eleutherodactylus richmondi

The Critically Endangered Richmond’s coqui is endemic to Puerto Rico, and lives in mesic forests in several locations across the island.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Cannatella’s Andes Frog

Hypodactylus lucida

Cannatella’s Andes frog is one of around twelve species in its genus, Hypodactylus. These species were recently defined as a distinct unit from the vast Eleutherodactylus genus that at one point contained over 700 frog species!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Noblella madreselva

Noblella madreselva occurs in an area measuring just 10km².

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Itatiaia Highland Frog

Holoaden bradei

This species is part of the family Craugastoridae, which is believed to have diverged from their closest living relatives over 50 million years ago, before the major Andean uplift.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Arboreal Splayfoot Salamander

Chiropterotriton arboreus

Before it was recorded again in 2010, only one individual of the Critically Endangered arboreal splayfoot salamander had been found since the 1980s.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Pigmy Splayfoot Salamander

Chiropterotriton lavae

The Critically Endangered pigmy splayfoot salamander could be considered a master of defence, as it employs a number of different techniques to ward off predators.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Phrynobatrachus intermedius

The Critically Endangered puddle frog Phrynobatrachus intermedius is a highly cryptic species endemic to Ghana, and is known from very few specimens.

Conservation Attention

Low

Myers’ Suriname Toad

Pipa myersi

Myers’ Suriname toad is a truly bizarre EDGE amphibian. This Endangered amphibian from Panama incubates its eggs under the skin on its back!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Spiny Puddle Frog

Phrynobatrachus chukuchuku

The Critically Endangered spiny puddle frog is a miniature species of puddle frog, with adults barely reaching 2 cm long! The species name is derived from the Cameroonian phrase ‘chuku chuku’, meaning ‘spiny’, referring to the minute spinules visible on males.

Conservation Attention

Low

Kirthisinghe’s Rock Frog

Nannophrys marmorata

The Critically Endangered Kirthisinghe’s rock frog is a very rare species endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.

Conservation Attention

Low

Cave Splayfoot Salmander

Chiropterotriton mosaueri

The Critically Endangered cave splayfoot salamander had not been seen for 73 years before its rediscovery in 2010!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Common Splayfoot Salamander

Chiropterotriton chiropterus

Contrary to its common name, the common splayfoot salamander has undergone a recent, catastrophic population decline and has not been seen since the 1980s.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Bleeding Toad

Leptophryne cruentata

The Bleeding toad became very rare in 1987, following the eruption of Mount Galunggung.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Du Toit’s Torrent Frog

Arthroleptides dutoiti

There have been numerous surveys to locate Du Toit’s torrent frog since its last record in 1962, but all attempts have failed to find the species.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Beautiful Nursery-frog

Cophixalus concinnus

All individuals of the beautiful nursery frog are found in one location, Thornton Peak in Queensland, Australia, above 1,100 metres above sea level.

Conservation Attention

Low

Bigfoot Splayfoot Salamander

Chiropterotriton magnipes

The Critically Endangered bigfoot splayfoot salamander is endemic to Mexico and found in damp caves surrounded by forest at around 2,4000 metres above sea level.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Gardiner’s Seychelles Frog

Sechellophryne gardineri

Gardiner’s Seychelles frog is one of the world’s smallest frog species, with adults reaching the size of just 1 cm! This species is ground-dwelling and forages at night for small invertebrates such as mites.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Microhylid Frog

Anilany helenae

This very rare species is endemic to Madagascar and is only found in two small habitat fragments in the vicinity of Ambohitantely.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Charles Darwin’s Frog

Ingerana charlesdarwini

Charles Darwin’s frog is only known from Mount Harriet and Saddle Peak in the Andaman Islands of India.

Conservation Attention

Low

Baw Baw Frog

Philoria frosti

In 1985 the adult male population of Baw Baw frogs was estimated to be over ten thousand individuals.

Conservation Attention

Good

Seychelles Frog

Sooglossus sechellensis

The Seychelles frog is an incredibly tiny frog, with males reaching a maximum length of just 15 mm.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Cophyla maharipeo

Cophyla maharipeo is endemic to Madagascar and has only been found in an abbey garden in Joffreville in the Diana region.

Conservation Attention

Medium