Global map of amphibian diversity (i.e., number of species), the number of Bd studies published per country, and locations with species data before and after a Bd-related chytridiomycosis epizootic., How many amphibians are in the world? The number of known amphibian species is approximately 8,000, of which nearly 90% are frogs. The smallest amphibian (and vertebrate) in the world is a frog from New Guinea (Paedophryne amauensis) with a length of just 7.7 mm (0.30 in)., There are lungless species in all three amphibian orders. The only lungless frog species known is Barbourula kalimantanensis, the Bornean flat-headed frog. The largest family of salamanders, with over 400 species, is entirely lungless, the Plethodontidae. There are only two known lungless caecilians, one aquatic and one terrestrial., Amphibian Conservation and Its Importance in Ecosystems. Protecting amphibians is not just about saving these remarkable creatures; it’s a vital step in maintaining the balance of ecosystems worldwide. These animals act as predators and prey, keeping insect populations in check and providing food for birds, mammals, and reptiles., Amphibians—frogs, toads, salamanders and newts—are vanishing. Researchers believe that since 1980, 122 amphibian species have gone extinct. Furthermore, 42 percent of the world's 7,500 frog, salamander and caecilian species are declining rapidly and are in danger of extinction in our lifetimes., .