How many amphibian species are there in the United States?
More than 6,000 amphibian species exist worldwide, with approximately 300 of them found in the United States.
The USGS is the lead agency for the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), a program of amphibian monitoring, research, and conservation that was established in response to the worldwide decline of amphibian species.
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Species occurrence data for the nation
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Early action to address an emerging wildlife disease
A deadly fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) that affects amphibian skin was discovered during a die-off of European fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) in 2014. This pathogen has the potential to worsen already severe worldwide amphibian declines. Bsal is a close relative to another fungal disease known as...
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Species data: National inventory of range maps and distribution models
The Gap Analysis Project (GAP) produces data and tools that help meet critical national challenges such as biodiversity conservation, renewable energy development, climate change adaptation, and infrastructure investment. The GAP species data includes vertebrate range maps and distribution models for the continental United States, as well as...
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The state of amphibians in the United States
More than 25 years ago, scientists began to identify unexplained declines in amphibian populations around the world. Much has been learned since then, but amphibian declines have not abated and the interactions among the various threats to amphibians are not clear. Amphibian decline is a problem of local, national, and international scope that can...
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Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI): A successful start to a national program in the United States
Most research to assess amphibian declines has focused on local-scale projects on one or a few species. The Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) is a national program in the United States mandated by congressional directive and implemented by the U.S. Department of the Interior (specifically the U.S. Geological Survey, USGS)....
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Use of amphibians as indicators of ecosystem restoration success
No abstract available at this time
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New Species Habitat Distribution Maps Now Support Conservation Planning at a National Scale
A new dataset of habitat distribution for terrestrial vertebrate species in the conterminous United States is now available from the USGS.
Saving Salamanders: Vital to Ecosystem Health
Amphibians—the big-eyed, swimming-crawling-jumping-climbing group of water and land animals that includes frogs, toads, salamanders and worm-like caecilians—are the world’s most endangered vertebrates.
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New Research Confirms Continued, Unabated and Large-Scale Amphibian Declines: Local Action Key to Reversing Losses
New U.S. Geological Survey-led research suggests that even though amphibians are severely declining worldwide, there is no smoking gun – and thus no simple solution – to halting or reversing these declines.
Deadly Amphibian Fungus Abroad Threatens Certain U.S. Regions
The areas of the United States that are most at risk of a potentially invasive salamander fungus are the Pacific coast, the southern Appalachian Mountains and the mid-Atlantic regions, according to a recently published U.S. Geological Survey report.
Invasive Amphibian Fungus Could Threaten US Salamander Populations
A deadly fungus causing population crashes in wild European salamanders could emerge in the United States and threaten already declining amphibians here, according to a report released today by the U.S. Geological Survey.
New USGS Research Shows How Land Use Affects Amphibians
New USGS research shows that rural areas and farms may be friendlier to frogs and toads than urban areas. Dr. Melinda Knutson, a conservation scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said the research on frog and toad populations in two Midwestern states shows that frog and toad abundance and species richness were low in urban areas but near normal in agricultural areas.
2017 September Evening Public Lecture — What's in a species name?
Title: What's in a species Name?: How wildlife management relies on modern systematics research and museum collections
* What have museum collections taught us about invasive diseases?
* When is an endangered species not a species?
* How can birds in a museum help protect airline passengers?
* How do geology and biology govern what species we find on
Chinese Firebelly Newt
A Chinese firebelly newt (Cynops orientalis), the first salamander species found to be infected with the spring viraemia of carp virus.
Northern leopard frog in Glen Canyon
Northern leopard frog in Glen Canyon.
Eft stage of red-spotted newt
The eft stage of a red-spotted newt.
An invasive American bullfrog with tracking device.
An invasive American bullfrog with tracking device.
Green Tree Frog
This green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) sits on the lip of a pitcher plant in a bog in Alabama. The frog was down in the pitcher plant, but moved up to rest on its edge as the photographer approached.
Weighing a Toad
USGS technician weighing a Yosemite toad in the field.
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Frog in Hiding
Frog in hiding along the Sheyenne River southeast of Maddock, North Dakota. Photograph taken during a bioassessment of the area.
Evening Frog Calls
An impressive chorus of frogs recorded at 9:00 pm on July 1, 2010 at Lake Ramsey Savannah State Wildlife Management Area near Covington, LA. Over the constant staccato "machine gun" call of the Pinewoods Treefrog (Hyla femoralis) you can hear the repetitive nasal "trill" of the Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) and the frequent sheep-like bleats of the Eastern
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.