Rare tree frog species becomes extinct

[JA]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/species-likely-extinct-after-rare-frog-dies-in-atlanta-1.3097593

Species likely extinct after rare frog dies in Atlanta
The Associated Press
Published Saturday, October 1, 2016 3:14PM EDT

ATLANTA -- Authorities say a rare tree frog -- the last known living member of the species in captivity -- has died at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the dead Rabbs' fringe-limbed tree frog was found dead in its enclosure during a routine daily inspection on Monday.

Workers at the garden had nicknamed the male amphibian "Toughie." It was estimated to be about 12 years old when it died.

In 2005 the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Zoo Atlanta and Southern Illinois University sent a team of scientists to Panama to collect live animals before chytrid disease struck the area.

Among the frogs they brought back to Atlanta was a species of tree frogs (Ecnomiohyla rabborum) new to science, the Rabbs' frog, the Atlanta newspaper reported. It was identified in 2005 by Zoo Atlanta herpetology curator Joseph Mendelson, and later named for conservationists George and Mary Rabb. The disease eventually arrived in Panama, and many of the frogs disappeared.

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[tarheelhockey]

This is sad, but at least human conservation efforts allowed it to be identified and preserved for a decade before the inevitable.

 

[Stealth JD]

I'm sure there are a few in the wild somewhere, waiting to be rediscovered.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Meh

Nature evens things out. Clearly this frog wasn't meant to last as nature eliminated it from earth

Surely it will have some effects on local eco system that frog was prevalent but some of those effects might be positive

 

[SenorDingDong]

Meh

Nature evens things out. Clearly this frog wasn't meant to last as nature eliminated it from earth

Surely it will have some effects on local eco system that frog was prevalent but some of those effects might be positive

I don't really agree with this. The mass extinction going on for the past 100 years hasn't been caused by Nature but by humans.

Humans are rapidly expediting the extinction of animals.

 

[Stealth JD]

I don't really agree with this. The mass extinction going on for the past 100 years hasn't been caused by Nature but by humans.

Humans are rapidly expediting the extinction of animals.

Correct. You're describing signs of the Anthropocene epoch, which we're currently in:

Human activity has:

*Pushed extinction rates of animals and plants far above the long-term average. The Earth is on course to see 75% of species become extinct in the next few centuries if current trends continue.
*Increased levels of climate-warming CO2 in the atmosphere at the fastest rate for 66m years, with fossil-fuel burning pushing levels from 280 parts per million before the industrial revolution to 400ppm and rising today.
*Put so much plastic in our waterways and oceans that microplastic particles are now virtually ubiquitous, and plastics will likely leave identifiable fossil records for future generations to discover.
*Doubled the nitrogen and phosphorous in our soils in the past century with fertiliser use. This is likely to be the largest impact on the nitrogen cycle in 2.5bn years.
*Left a permanent layer of airborne particulates in sediment and glacial ice such as black carbon from fossil fuel burning.

 

[Quarter]

RIP mighty tree frog

 

[Warden of the North]

Highly doubtful its extinct.