Amphibians
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Find out everything there is to know about amphibians and stay updated on the latest amphibian news with the comprehensive articles, interactive features and amphibian pictures at LiveScience.com. Learn more about these fascinating creatures as scientists continue to make amazing discoveries about amphibians.
Explore Amphibians
Latest about Amphibians
![Two women pose with a frog.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wnak7qb4CBSUddLtmd59fh-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wnak7qb4CBSUddLtmd59fh-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wnak7qb4CBSUddLtmd59fh-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wnak7qb4CBSUddLtmd59fh-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wnak7qb4CBSUddLtmd59fh-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wnak7qb4CBSUddLtmd59fh-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wnak7qb4CBSUddLtmd59fh-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wnak7qb4CBSUddLtmd59fh-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Toxic pigment that causes red hair discovered in 10 million-year-old frog fossil
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Paleontologists have discovered the first molecular evidence of pheomelanin, a pigment that causes red hair, in the fossil record.
![two european common frogs mating in a pond](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPddLFDvxNqrAgxAtr6gX-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPddLFDvxNqrAgxAtr6gX-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPddLFDvxNqrAgxAtr6gX-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPddLFDvxNqrAgxAtr6gX-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPddLFDvxNqrAgxAtr6gX-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPddLFDvxNqrAgxAtr6gX-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPddLFDvxNqrAgxAtr6gX-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UPddLFDvxNqrAgxAtr6gX-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
These female frogs fake their own deaths to get out of sex
By Carissa Wong published
Female European common frogs will play dead to avoid mating during their "explosive" breeding, where several males attempt to mount one female at the same time.
![an axolotl, or mexican salamander, looking at the camera with pink frills around its face](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m5jVtAvJVZNQDy2ywRE7rV-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m5jVtAvJVZNQDy2ywRE7rV-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m5jVtAvJVZNQDy2ywRE7rV-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m5jVtAvJVZNQDy2ywRE7rV-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m5jVtAvJVZNQDy2ywRE7rV-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m5jVtAvJVZNQDy2ywRE7rV-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m5jVtAvJVZNQDy2ywRE7rV-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m5jVtAvJVZNQDy2ywRE7rV-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Axolotl: The adorable amphibian that can regrow its body and stay looking young forever
By Megan Shersby published
The Mexican salamander is only found in two lakes and is considered critically endangered, with pollution and invasive predators driving the species' decline.
![a black rain frog puffed up staring at the camera on a grassy background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GhxKFYf9m57tzzprLXiHpA-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GhxKFYf9m57tzzprLXiHpA-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GhxKFYf9m57tzzprLXiHpA-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GhxKFYf9m57tzzprLXiHpA-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GhxKFYf9m57tzzprLXiHpA-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GhxKFYf9m57tzzprLXiHpA-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GhxKFYf9m57tzzprLXiHpA-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GhxKFYf9m57tzzprLXiHpA-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Black rain frog: The bizarre, grumpy-faced amphibian that's terrible at jumping and swimming
By Hannah Osborne published
The funny-looking puffed up frog is only found on the forested slopes of the southern Cape fold mountains in South Africa and spends most of its time underground.
![A frog is seen diving headfirst into a flower's bulb to access nectar.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atFTa6hrijSVH84LRmrLPd-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atFTa6hrijSVH84LRmrLPd-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atFTa6hrijSVH84LRmrLPd-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atFTa6hrijSVH84LRmrLPd-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atFTa6hrijSVH84LRmrLPd-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atFTa6hrijSVH84LRmrLPd-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atFTa6hrijSVH84LRmrLPd-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/atFTa6hrijSVH84LRmrLPd-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Brazilian tree frogs could be the 1st example of amphibians pollinating flowers, study finds
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Scientists in Brazil may have observed the first example of an amphibian pollinating a flowering plant.
![A hellbender salamander sitting on a rock.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/boSr5MPCFans5o5jCdh5N6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/boSr5MPCFans5o5jCdh5N6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/boSr5MPCFans5o5jCdh5N6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/boSr5MPCFans5o5jCdh5N6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/boSr5MPCFans5o5jCdh5N6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/boSr5MPCFans5o5jCdh5N6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/boSr5MPCFans5o5jCdh5N6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/boSr5MPCFans5o5jCdh5N6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Hellbender salamander dads are cannibalizing their young, and deforestation may be to blame
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Deforestation is forcing hellbender salamander dads to eat their young.
![A frog clings to a tree branch.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x7yxViRuyKtFjgcRaJ5ooZ-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Otherworldly 'Lord of the Rings' frog discovered in the mountains of Ecuador
By Sascha Pare published
A previously unknown frog species was discovered in Ecuador and named after fantasy author J. R. R. Tolkien.
![A woman holds a 6-pound cane toad found in a national park.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YBNbiUcKqmYY9LySsvFs3Y-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YBNbiUcKqmYY9LySsvFs3Y-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YBNbiUcKqmYY9LySsvFs3Y-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YBNbiUcKqmYY9LySsvFs3Y-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YBNbiUcKqmYY9LySsvFs3Y-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YBNbiUcKqmYY9LySsvFs3Y-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YBNbiUcKqmYY9LySsvFs3Y-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YBNbiUcKqmYY9LySsvFs3Y-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
'Monster cane toad' dubbed 'Toadzilla' found in Australia
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
Rangers in Australia stumbled upon a giant cane toad resembling a "football with legs"
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