Central Africa represents a region of exceptional biodiversity, but not enough is yet known about the origins of—and threats to—its species richness. With amphibian populations declining at alarming rates in this area and around the world, David Blackburn leads efforts to explore and sustain Cameroonian frogs on the brink of extinction.
“Habitat destruction is the single greatest threat to frogs worldwide,” says Blackburn. “Xenopus longipes, the Lake Oku clawed frog is a small, slow-moving water-dweller found in only one place in the world. It’s critical we study this species before its home is forever altered by human encroachment.”
Blackburn is cataloging specimens, recording frog calls, and collecting tissue samples in an effort to learn more about amphibian diversity and evolution—and to successfully develop captive breeding programs for endangered frogs (like X. longipes) that have never before been kept in captivity.