By Garry Rogers

Arizona Amphibian Conservation Status

Jill, One-Eyed Rocky Mountain Toad Living at Coldwater Farm, 2010-2013

Amphibians are faced with severe human impacts worldwide. Habitat loss, invasions, toxic pollution, disease, and increasing short wave solar radiation penetrating the atmosphere have placed them near the top of global conservation concerns.

Arizona amphibians are failing right along with their global families. The greatest threat to Arizona amphibians may be habitat loss. Arizona’s growing human population is using water so fast that springs and streams are drying up. Arizona State Game and Fish Department reports that 58% of native amphibians are vulnerable to decline and extinction (State Status S1-S3), and 74% of natives are of possible long-term concern (State Status S1-S4). Several species are protected or are being considered for protection according to the rules of the U. S. Endangered Species Act.

Amphibian Numbers

Arizona is home to 35 water-dependent frogs, toads, and salamanders. Many species occur in widely separated populations, and some of these are declining. For example, the Arizona Treefrog (Hyla wrightorum), the Arizona state amphibian, is stable over most of its range, but the population in the Huachuca/Canelo Hills in southern AZ is critically imperiled and is a candidate for ESA protection.

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  Colorado River Toad at Coldwater Farm

  • World:  6400
  • U.S.:  230
• Arizona Total:  35
• Arizona Natives:  31
• Arizona Vulnerable (Ranked S1-S3):  18 (58%)
• Arizona Possible Long-Term Concern (Ranked S1-S4):  23 (74%)

Conservation Status Symbol Definitions

(More Symbols Applied by Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD))

• S1      Critically Imperiled: Extremely rare or some factor(s) is making the species especially vulnerable to extirpation.  Typically 5 or fewer locations or very few remaining individuals (<1,000).
• S2      Imperiled:  Rare or some factor(s) is making the species very vulnerable to extirpation. Typically 6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals (1,000 to 3,000).
• S3      Vulnerable:  Rare or found only in a restricted range (even if abundant at some locations), or because of other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation.  Typically 21 to 100 occurrences or between 3,000 and 10,000 individuals.
• S4      Apparently Secure:  Uncommon but not rare, and usually widespread.  Usually more than 100 occurrences* and more than 10,000 individuals.  Possible long-term concern.
• S5      Secure:  Common, widespread, and abundant.  Safe under present conditions.  Typically with considerably more than 100 locations and more than 10,000 individuals.
• SX      Presumed Extinct:  Not located despite intensive searches of historical sites and other appropriate habitat, and virtually no likelihood that it will be rediscovered.
• S#S# (e.g., S3S4):  Indicates the range of uncertainty about exact status.
• SE=Exotic Origin:  Species is not native to AZ.

Symbols Used for the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

• LE       Listed Endangered:  Imminent jeopardy of extinction.
• LT        Listed Threatened:  Imminent jeopardy of becoming Endangered.
• PS       Partial Status:  Listed Endangered or Threatened, but not in entire range.
• SAT     Listed Threatened due to Similarity of Appearance.  This happens when a member of a non-listed population is found within the geographic area of a Distinct Population Segment for a listed species (e.g., a wintering bald eagle within the DPS for listed bald eagles).
• C          Candidate:  Species for which the USFWS has on file sufficient information on biological vulnerability and threats to support proposals to list as Endangered or Threatened under ESA. Proposed rules for these species is precluded at present by other higher priority listing actions.
• SC       Species of Concern:  The terms “Species of Concern” or “Species at Risk” should be considered as terms-of-art that describe the entire realm of taxa whose conservation status may be of concern to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, but neither term has official status (currently includes all former C2 and delisted species).

Arizona Amphibian Species List