#riptoughie

Rabbs’ Fringe-limbed Tree Frog (named after devoted amphibian conservationists George and Mary Rabb) Is believed to be extinct as of September 2016 and hasn’t been seen or heard in Panama since 2007. The probable cause of the frog’s extinction is the emergent infectious amphibian disease — chytridiomycosis (chytrid) A large frog, almost the size of a human hand Frogs of the genus Ecnomiohyla are specialized Tree Frogs (family Hylidae) known for their ability to glide by using expanded finger and toe webbing. He hadn’t been heard calling until 2014, when a mysterious call emanated from the frogPOD. Mark Mandica, the Amphibian Conservation Program’s manager was able to quietly approach and make a recording. The call of this frog had never been recorded before. The recording can be heard on YouTube by visiting the link below: https://youtu.be/Mz2Ir2_O-cQ #RIPToughie

San Martín Fringe-limbed Treefrog, Ecnomiohyla valancifer Critically endangered, Fringe-limbed Treefrog from an extremely small range in Mexico. This species is closely related to the recently extinct Rabbs' Fringe-limbed Treefrog, the last of which was named #Toughie and died in 2016. Conservation friend and hero @leilanimunter came to visit is and these frogs on the anniversary of Toughie's death last September. #RIPToughie (at The Amphibian Foundation) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmtgVZvlGfT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xftlbckl8q7g

𝘌𝘤𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘰𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘮⁣⁠ 𝐑𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐬' 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞-𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐠⁠ ⁠ Another frog featured in the '10 Stunning Frogs Whose Populations Are Dwindling' article was the Rabbs' Frog. At the time, there was still one known remaining specimen, which sadly passed away in 2016. The species is now possibly extinct.⁠ ⁠ You can always tell this frog, which my son nicknamed #Toughie from other conspecifics by the yellow dot under his right eye.⁠ ⁠ #10StunningFrogs #RIPToughie #Toughie https://www.instagram.com/p/B_fWb4eBtNy/?igshid=1r7imgiopkp2j

In honor of Lost Species Day (Nov 30th) I painted this portrait of #Toughie the last known Rabbs' Fringe-limbed Tree Frog who passed away September 26th. It was a privilege to know him and work with him all those years. #RIPToughie #Ecnomiohyla #Ecnomiohylarabborum #RacingExtinction (at The Amphibian Foundation, Inc)

Another one from the series of my last images taken of ‘Toughie’, the last known Rabbs’ Fringe-limbed Tree Frog who passed away September 26, 2016. His death marks the likely extinction of the species #Ecnomiohyla rabborum. Here are some facts about this frog: #Toughie was collected as part of the Panamanian frog rescue mission in 2005, set forth by ABG and Zoo Atlanta to save frogs being decimated by chytrid fungus. I had the honor of working with him for almost 7 years, and in that time his sad story of being the very last of his kind had, in a powerfully sad way, made him an ‘ambassador' for amphibian conservation and awareness. Almost 40% of the world’s amphibian populations are documented as in decline, or already extinct. That means that this frog - who my son nicknamed ‘Toughie’ when he was 2 years old - is unfortunately not entirely unique in his situation. There are other species out there, blinking out before we even have a chance to recognize what was happening, let alone reverse it. Amphibians are disappearing and their declines are telling us something we need to pay attention to. It’s going to take all of us to make a difference for the amphibians, and ultimately, for us too. Some more about Toughie: He was collected as an adult in 2005, so he was at least 12 years old at the time he passed away. His actual age is unknown. His genetic material was collected after death. His genus, Ecnomiohyla, is a group of neotropical gliding frogs. Expanded toe webbing and lateral skin enables them to glide from one tree to the next. His specific name, rabborum, refers to the fact that he was named by Joe Mendelson after dedicated amphibian conservationists — George and Mary Rabb. He was featured in National Geographic by Joel Sartore, The Huffington Post by Leilani Münter, #RacingExtinction and #ProjectingChange by Louis Psihoyos and OPS. For the Projecting Change movement, Joel Sartore's image of him was projected on the Vatican while his vocalization played for over a million people. His call was recorded for the first time in 2014 and can be heard here: https://youtu.be/Mz2Ir2_O-cQ #RIPToughie #Ecnomiohylarabborum #AmphibianFoundation

I thought I would share some of the last images taken of Toughie. As many of you know, I had the honor of his company for many years, and any time he was out while I was checking on him, I would take flash-less photos of his handsome face. Toughie was collected as part of the Panamanian frog rescue mission in 2005, set forth by ABG and Zoo Atlanta to save frogs being decimated by chytrid fungus. I had the honor of working with him for almost 7 years, and in that time his sad story of being the very last of his kind had, in a powerfully sad way, made him an ‘ambassador' for amphibian conservation and awareness. Almost 40% of the world’s amphibian populations are documented as in decline, or already extinct. That means that this frog - who my son nicknamed ‘Toughie’ when he was 2 years old - is unfortunately not entirely unique in his situation. There are other species out there, blinking out before we even have a chance to recognize what was happening, let alone reverse it. Amphibians are disappearing and their declines are telling us something we need to pay attention to. It’s going to take all of us to make a difference for the amphibians, and ultimately, for us too. Some facts about Toughie: He was collected as an adult in 2005, so he was at least 12 years old at the time he passed away. His actual age is unknown. His genetic material was collected after death. His genus, Ecnomiohyla, is a group of neotropical gliding frogs. Expanded toe webbing and lateral skin enables them to glide from one tree to the next. His specific name, rabborum, refers to the fact that he was named by Joe Mendelson after dedicated amphibian conservationists — George and Mary Rabb. He was featured in National Geographic by Joel Sartore, The Huffington Post by Leilani Münter, #RacingExtinction and #ProjectingChange by Louis Psihoyos and OPS. For the Projecting Change movement, Joel Sartore's image of him was projected on the Vatican while his vocalization played for over a million people. His call was recorded for the first time in 2014 and can be heard here: https://youtu.be/Mz2Ir2_O-cQ #RIPToughie #Toughie #Ecnomiohyla #Ecnomiohylarabborum #Hylidae #GlidingFrog