A Species Went Extinct Today

Today a species went extinct. We believe little-studied and unknown species may be disappearing without our knowledge, but on September 29, 2016 the world is actually documenting the extinction of a species – the Rabbs’ fringe-limbed treefrog or Ecnomiohyla rabborum.

Once called The Loneliest Frog in the World, this one last individual has been cared for by the Atlanta Botanical Gardens for nearly a dozen years. Collected on a rescue mission in Panama as a fungus swept down through Central America decimating amphibian populations along the way, he was the last individual of a species poorly known to science since.

Most people have never heard of the Rabbs’ fringe-limbed treefrog, even Panamanians had rarely heard or seen them. It is not the last species to go extinct during our lifetimes, but as we watch them disappear, we need to find ways to get people inspired to care about animals they love, and animals they have barely ever heard of.

Take a simple action to make a change and then grow that action to inspire others to care. Take a few seconds to watch a video clip from our colleague and Photo Ark founder Joel Sartore of the world’s last Rabbs’ fringe-limbed treefrog:

Rabbs’ Fringe-limbed treefrog from Joel Sartore on Vimeo.