Study Reveals How Ancient Amphibians Survived Earth's Deadliest Mass Extinction

The pot is already boiling for 2% of the world's amphibians

Amphibians are increasingly vulnerable to global warming, according to new research.

Hot frogs and sizzling salamanders: climate change is pushing amphibians to their limits

Wirestock Creators, ShutterstockFrogs and other amphibians rely on the surrounding environment to regulate their body temperature. On hot days they might seek shade, water or cool spaces underground. But what if everywhere is too hot? There is a limit to how much heat amphibians can tolerate. My colleagues and I wanted to work out how close amphibians are to reaching these limits, globally. Our new research, published today in Nature, shows 2% o…

How amphibians survived Earth’s deadliest mass extinction

Ancient amphibians survived Earth's biggest extinction by feeding on freshwater prey. Their adaptability helped them thrive.

252 million years ago frogs outsmarted Earth's deadliest extinction

Ancient frog relatives were among the 10% that survived and thrived after the end-Permian extinction.

Ancient Frogs Survived Earth's Greatest Mass Extinction Event by Not Adapting

Learn why the temnospondyls’ inability to evolve eventually did them in when mammals and dinosaurs appeared on the scene.

Earth's 'Great Dying' killed 80-90% of life. How some amphibians survived.

Bulbous temnospondyls looked like a cross between a crocodile and a salamander.