Salamanders in Central America — like frogs, toads, and other amphibians at sites around the world — are rapidly and mysteriously declining, report researchers writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We document major declines of many species of salamanders at several sites in Central America and Mexico, with emphasis on the San Marcos region of Guatemala, one of the best studied and most diverse salamander communities in the Neotropics," write the authors. "Profound declines of several formerly abundant species, including 2 apparent extinctions, are revealed."
The authors note that salamander populations in mid- to high elevation forests have been particularly affected.
The researchers do not know yet what is causing the decline, though they suspect a human link.
clipped from: news.mongabay.com