Amphibians are a class of vertebrates with over 4,000 species. There are three orders of amphibians: salamanders and newts (Urodela) , frogs and toads (Anura) , and caecilians (Apoda) . Thought of as cold-blooded, amphibians are ectotherms, meaning they are unable to regulate their own body temperature independently of the temperature of their surroundings. Amphibians are generally small with thin skin permeable to air and water. With few exceptions, amphibians do not actively care for their young. In general, amphibian reproduction strategy consists of egg-laying and external fertilization of a large number of eggs in a moist or fully aquatic environment. Fertilized eggs develop into amphibian larvae that live part of their lives dependent on an aquatic environment requiring gills and specialized feeding habits. Following a pattern of development unique to amphibians, amphibian larvae undergo marked changes and metamorphose into an terrestrial form that lives on land. Typically, this metamorphosis is demonstrated by loss of gills, changes in overall appearance, and changes in diet. The Southwest is home to a variety of ecosystems which provide diverse terrestrial habitats and aquatic habitats, which amphibians depend on for reproduction.

Amphibian Species of Greatest Conservation Need
Thirty-nine amphibian species have been identified in state wildlife action plans as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (GCN) for the Southwest Region, which includes Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The Southwest Species of Greatest Conservation Need interactive application brings together resources on these 39 GCN amphibian species and other GCN taxa from multiple authoritative sources including the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) and NatureServe.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need Browse the interactive application to find out more about the 39 amphibian species of greatest conservation need in the Southwest Region.