Monogamy

via news.bbc.co.uk

Genetic tests have revealed that male and females of Ranitomeya imitator remain utterly faithful to each other. More surprising is the discovery that just one thing - the size of the pools of water in which they lay their tadpoles - prevents the frogs straying. That constitutes the best evidence yet documented that monogamy can have a single cause.

A Key Ecological Trait Drove the Evolution of Biparental Care and Monogamy in an Amphibian. Jason L. Brown, Victor Morales, Kyle Summers. April 2010.

Newborn Typhlonectes natans

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The fiery Luristan Newt - Mongabay.com

Mongabay.com

Forgotten Species: the fiery Luristan Newt Mongabay.com The Luristan newt is "a gem of Iran's rich biological diversity, being endemic to the Zagros Mountains, and the only salamander within its range. Native to a tiny river region in the Zagros mountians of Iran, the Luristan newt Neurergus kaiseri stuns everyone who works with it. The future of the newt is on the line: currently the species is up for a CITES I protection which would prohibit any international trade in the species, hopefully curtailing the pet trade. This proposal will be submitted by Iran CITES representative at the next CITES Conference of Parties to be held in March in Doha, Qatar. But this may not be enough to ensure the survival of the Luristan newt: it is estimated that less than 1,000 survive in the wild. As a backup plan herpetologists are hoping to set up another captive breeding program, but this time in Iran. However, as with many 'forgotten species' the necessary funds to save the Luristan newt have proven difficult to come by.

Meet the world's biggest amphibian

via news.bbc.co.uk

The Deadly Chytrid Fungus: Story of an Emerging Pathogen

This is the best introduction to chytrid fungus that I've read. I suggest you read it too:

The Deadly Chytrid Fungus: A Story of an Emerging Pathogen. PLoS Pathog 6(1): e1000550, 2010