Amphibians and Reptiles at Risk in West Africa December 14, 2012

The Guinean rain forest of Western Africa is a center of biodiversity. The percentage of reptile and amphibian species that are unique to this region far exceeds that of other animal groups. Along with this impressive diversity is an alarming rate of habitat loss. In Ghana alone, natural forests have diminished to about 10% of their former coverage. Worldwide, habitat loss and forest fragmentation are recognized as key factors driving the global extinction of genetically distinct populations and species. Identifying new species before they go extinct is an urgent challenge in biology and was the focus of Burke herpetology curator, Adam Leache's, recent expedition.