It would be foolhardy of me, in an attempt to highlight the diversity embodied in the order Amphibia, to begin this article by giving the reader the exact number of species described for the group. Such a figure would probably be out of date within a few days of publication. Let’s leave it at over 8,700 species – almost 7,700 anurans (frogs and toads), about 800 urodeles (salamanders and newts), and 200 caecilians. There are even genera such as the Pristimantis frogs, which are a surprising source of diversity in themselves, with around 500 species. There are species with a very wide distribution, such as the common salamander (Salamandra salamandra), which covers a large part of Europe, and others that are restricted to a few kilometres, such as the Balearic midwife toad (Alytes muletensis). Some amphibians grow to 1.17 metres long and weigh up to 11 kilos, such as the Chinese salamander (Andrias davidianus), while others are just 7 millimetres long, such as the Papua New Guinea frog Paedophryne amauensis. Another surprising but less flattering fact is that amphibians are the most endangered group of vertebrates on the planet. Factors such as habitat destruction, climate change and emerging diseases (such as chytridiomycosis) are pushing amphibians towards extinction. It is estimated that one in three species is now threatened.
It is therefore always a privilege to find and photograph an amphibian. Many species are best seen at night, such as this Madagascar endemic frog of the genus Heterixalus. The use of an external flash with a diffuser is thus almost mandatory. The diffuser will help to soften the light on the animal and will also help to reduce the impact of the light on the animal. Also, keeping the aperture as small as possible will make it easier to focus on a large part of the frog’s head.
Exif data: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, 100mm IS USM; 1/200s; f9; ISO 100.
