In search of lost frogs : the quest to find the world's rarest amphibians

The story of an expedition in search of the world's rarest and most exotic amphibians. On August 9, 2010, 33 teams from 21 countries were dispatched to search for the Lost Frogs identified by Conservation International. On their list were a host of species including, in the top ten most wanted, the Rio Pescado Stubfoot Toad, found only in Ecuador - which was to prove a triumphant rediscovery. Several months, a number of key rediscoveries - such as the Elegant Tropical Frog, last seen in 1937 and the Chalazodes Bubble-nest Frog - last seen in 1874 and two new species later, the Search for Lost Frogs had generated more than 650 news articles in 20 countries and over a billion potential viewers. Author Robin Moore was responsible for spearheading the Search for Lost Frogs and coordinating the teams. He also co-led two expeditions to Colombia and Haiti. In Colombia in search of the Mesopotamia Beaked Toad, the steamy jungles of the Choco yielded not the desired species but a brand new one - the Mr. Burns Toad, so-called because of an uncanny resemblance to the Simpsons' character; the species was selected as one of Time magazine's top ten new species of 2010. In Haiti the team found six frogs last seen 20 years before, including the Ventriloqual Frog, named for its ability to throw its voice. This fascinating new book tells the story of the expedition - its highs and lows, discoveries and failures and the campaign's ongoing work. Despite the campaign, one third of the world's amphibians remain threatened with extinction. Most of the species searched for were not found. But those that were provide a glimmer of hope. Understanding why these species have survived when many others have not should help us understand what makes these species different. In Search of Lost Frogs is a story of perseverance, disappointment, rediscovery, resilience, but ultimately of hope, written with passion and illustrated with the author's superb photographs. "On August 9, 2010, 33 teams from 21 countries were dispatched to search for the Lost Frogs identified by Conservation International. On their list were a host of species including, in the top ten most wanted, the Rio Pescado Stubfoot Toad, found only in Ecuador - which was to prove a triumphant rediscovery. Several months, a number of key rediscoveries - such as the Elegant Tropical Frog, last seen in 1937 and the Chalazodes Bubble-nest Frog - last seen in 1874 and two new species later, the Search for Lost Frogs had generated more than 650 news articles in 20 countries and over a billion potential viewers. Author Robin Moore was responsible for spearheading the Search for Lost Frogs and coordinating the teams. He also co-led two expeditions to Colombia and Haiti. In Colombia in search of the Mesopotamia Beaked Toad, the steamy jungles of the Choco yielded not the desired species but a brand new one - the Mr. Burns Toad, so-called because of an uncanny resemblance to the Simpsons' character; the species was selected as one of Time magazine's top ten new species of 2010. In Haiti the team found six frogs last seen 20 years before, including the Ventriloqual Frog, named for its ability to throw its voice. This fascinating new book tells the story of the expedition - its highs and lows, discoveries and failures and the campaign's ongoing work. Despite the campaign, one third of the world's amphibians remain threatened with extinction. Most of the species searched for were not found. But those that were provide a glimmer of hope. Understanding why these species have survived when many others have not should help us understand what makes these species different. In Search of Lost Frogs is a story of perseverance, disappointment, rediscovery, resilience, but ultimately of hope, written with passion and illustrated with the author's superb photographs."--Publisher description Foreword / by George Meyer -- Prologue -- Part 1. Unravelling a mystery. Spawning a passion -- The great disappearing act -- The smoking gun -- The grand curtain of life -- Lazarus frogs -- Part 2. The search. The search for lost frogs -- The thin line between life and death -- In search of the Mesopotamia beaked toad, Colombia -- Lost and found -- Lost frogs in the land of the living dead, Haiti -- Lost! : amphibians of India -- Most wanted, still lost -- In search of the Hula painted frog, Israel -- In search of the variable harlequin frog, Costa Rica -- Part 3. A journey's end. Second chances -- The song of the spadefoot -- The last word -- Expeditions in search of lost frogs.;Moore, a photographer and conservationist, relates how in 2010, he led the Search for Lost Frogs campaign, in which 33 teams searched on five continents for frogs, toads, and salamanders that had not been seen in decades. He describes how he and other scientists searched for frogs and newts in Scotland, Central and North America, and Australia; how he launched the campaign and created a 10 "Most Wanted" list; and the campaign's successes and failures. --Publisher's description. Cover; Half-title; Title; Copyright; Foreword; Contents; Prologue; PART ONE: UNRAVELLING A MYSTERY; Chapter 1 Spawning a passion; Edinburgh, April 1981; Drumbeg, Scottish Highlands, July 1982; Chapter 2 The great disappearing act; Monteverde cloud forest, Costa Rica, 1964; Minnesota, USA, Summer 1995; Southern Ecuador, April 2007; Limón, southern Ecuador, April 2008; Chapter 3 The smoking gun; Sequoia National Park, Sierra Nevada of California, August 2008; Chapter 4 The grand curtain of life; Edinburgh, Scotland, 1982; Sixty Lake Basin, Sierra Nevada of California, August 2008 Massif de la Hotte and Massif de la Selle, Haiti, October 2010Chapter 11 Lost! Amphibians of India; Delhi, India, November 2010; Chapter 12 Most wanted, still lost; Chapter 13 In search of the Hula Painted Frog, Israel; Tel Aviv, Israel, January 2013; Chapter 14 In search of the Variable Harlequin Frog, Costa Rica; Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2013; PART THREE: A JOURNEY'S END; Chapter 15 Second chances; Chapter 16 The song of the Spadefoot; Chapter 17 The last word; Majadahonda Hospital, Madrid, 10 March 2012; Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, September 2013 Chapter 5 Lazarus frogsCajas National Park, Ecuador, April 2007; PART TWO: THE SEARCH; Chapter 6 The search for lost frogs; Chapter 7 The thin line between life and death; Washington, DC, 10 August 2010; Madrid, 15 August 2010; Chapter 8 In search of the Mesopotamia Beaked Toad, Colombia; Department of Antioquia, Colombia, 9 September 2010; Chapter 9 Lost and found; Chapter 10 Lost frogs in the land of the living dead, Haiti; Massif de la Selle, Haiti, October 2010; Port-au-Prince to Massif de la Hotte, Haiti, February 2007; Port-au-Prince, Haiti, May 2010 On August 9, 2010, 33 teams from 21 countries were dispatched to search for the lost frogs identified by Conservation International. Robin Moore was responsible for spearheading the search and coordinating the teams, and in this book he tells the story of the expedition - its highs and lows, discoveries and failures, and the campaign's ongoing work.