Golden Toad (Bufo periglenes)

Extinction - See:

• 'The Extinction of the Golden Toad - Symptom of a Worldwide Crisis'
   at Miami University

The golden toad was one of more than 500 species in the family Bufonidae — the "true toads". B. periglenes inhabited northern Costa Rica’sMonteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, distributed over an area of roughly 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi) at an average elevation of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi)

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The golden toad (Bufo periglenes) was a small, shiny, bright true toad that was once abundant in a small region of high-altitude cloud-covered tropical forests, about 30 square kilometers in area, above the city of Monteverde, Costa Rica. For this reason, it is sometimes also called the Monteverde golden toad, or the Monte Verde toad. Other common English names include Alajuela toad and orange toad. They were first described in 1966 by the herpetologist Jay Savage.[2] Since May 15, 1989, not a single B. periglenes is reported to have been seen anywhere in the world, and it is classified by the IUCN as an extinct species.


Its sudden extinction is cited as part of the decline in amphibian populations, which may be attributable to a fungal epidemic specific to amphibians or other factors, combined or acting independently.







Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_toad

Herpetology and Me.

Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, andgymnophionae) and reptiles (including snakes, lizards, amphisbaenids, turtles, terrapins, tortoises, crocodilians, and the tuataras).

Herpetology is concerned with poikilothermic, ectothermic tetrapods. "Herps" (or sometimes "herptiles" or "herpetofauna") exclude fish.

Many herpetological societies exist today, having been formed to promote interest in reptiles and amphibians both captive and wild.

Herpetology offers benefits to humanity in the study of the role of amphibians and reptiles in global ecology, especially because amphibians are often very sensitive to environmental changes, offering a visible warning to humans that significant changes are taking place. Some toxins and venoms produced by reptiles and amphibians are useful in human medicine. Currently, some snake venom has been used to create anti-coagulants that work to treat stroke victims and heart attack cases.

The word "herpetology" is from Greek: ἑρπήτόν, herpeton, "creeping animal" and -λογία, -logia. People with an avid interest in herpetology and who keep different reptiles or amphibians often refer to themselves as "herpers".

                                                        
Read:

• Kraig Adler (1989) Contributions to the History of Herpetology, Society for the study of amphibians and reptiles.

External Links:

• Field Herpetology Guide
• American Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists
• Herpetological Conservation and Biology [1]
• Societas Europaea Herpetologica
   Distribution Maps for European Reptiles and Amphibians
• Center for North American Herpetology
   over 500 species of reptiles and amphibians
• European Field Herping Community
• New Zealand Herpetology
• http://www.herplit.com/herplit/
   (Welcome to Bibliomania!)

Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpetology

Green Iguana

The history of this creature in the Pet Trade would make for interesting reading to the thousands of people who obtained them from pet shops over the years.