Amphibians at Lincoln Park Zoo
American toad
Bufo americanus
Dyeing poison arrow frog
Dendrobates tinctorius
Axylotl
Ambystoma mexicanum
Gray tree frog
Hyla versicolor
Emperor newt
Tylototriton shanjing
Solomon Island leaf frog
Ceratobatrachus guentheri
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Amphibians
are important
because…
They are both predator
and prey, maintaining
the delicate balance of
the food chain.
They eat pests, benefiting agriculture around
the world and minimizing
the spread of diseases.
They are “the canary in
the coal mine”—they
are among the first species to be affected by
environmental stressors;
when they show declines
in the wild it serves as a
warning to other species,
including humans.
What is
the amphibian
crisis?
Amphibians around
the world are disappearing from their wild
habitats. After thriving
for 360 million years,
half of the world’s 6,000
amphibian species
could disappear in our
lifetime. We are facing
the largest mass extinction since the dinosaurs.
Amphibians
are declining
because…
The fungus
batrachochytridium
dendrobatidis (BD)
is killing them.
Global climate change
may be exacerbating
the problem.
Shrinking wetlands are
increasingly polluted,
destroying habitats for
these cold-blooded
creatures that are highly
sensitive to toxins.
Be part of
the solution!
Reduce water
consumption, energy
waste and chemical-fertilizer use.
Provide backyard
habitats in which
amphibians can thrive.
Live clean, live green.
Make daily decisions to
protect the environment.
Learn more about the
zoo’s green efforts at
lpzoo.org/green.
Learn more about
the crisis at
amphibianark.org.
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