List of 131 harlequin toad species (in alphabetical order) with information on occurence, population status 2004 and 2022, threats, IUCN Red List status and contributing experts

Biodiversity loss is extreme in amphibians. Despite ongoing conservation action, it is difficult to determine where we stand in overcoming their extinction crisis. Among the most threatened amphibians are the 131 Neotropical harlequin toads. Many of them declined since the 1980s with several considered possibly extinct. Recently, more than 30 species have been rediscovered, raising hope for a reversing trend in the amphibian extinction crisis. We use past and present data available for harlequin toads (Atelopus), to examine whether the amphibian extinction crisis is still in an emergency state. Since 2004 no species has improved its population status, suggesting that recovery efforts have not been successful. Threats include habitat change, pathogen spread and climate change. More mitigation strategies need implementation, especially habitat protection and disease management, combined with captive conservation breeding. With harlequin toads serving as a model, it is clear that the amphi...

两栖类的生物多样性丧失形势极为严峻。尽管已持续开展各类保护行动，但我们仍难以评估当前在缓解两栖类灭绝危机方面的进展。受威胁程度最高的两栖类类群中，包含131种新热带界花斑蟾蜍（Neotropical harlequin toads）。自20世纪80年代起，其中多数物种种群数量持续下降，已有多个物种被认定为可能已灭绝。近期已有超过30个物种被重新发现，这为两栖类灭绝危机的逆转趋势带来了希望。本研究利用已公开的花斑蟾属（Atelopus）历史与现状数据，旨在探究两栖类灭绝危机是否仍处于紧急状态。自2004年以来，没有任何一个物种种群状态得到改善，这表明当前的恢复工作尚未取得成功。威胁因素包括栖息地改变、病原体传播与气候变化。亟需实施更多减缓策略，尤其是栖息地保护、病害管理，并结合迁地保护繁育（captive conservation breeding）。以花斑蟾属作为研究模型，不难看出两栖类的（amphi...）