Today, the National Geographic Photo Ark celebrates 18 years of highlighting the world’s biodiversity. To mark this milestone, we are pleased to announce the addition of the 16,000th species to the list: the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum).
Photographed by Photo Ark founder and National Geographic Explorer Joel Sartore at the University of California Santa Cruz, this salamander is one of the first species listed under the Endangered Species Preservation Act, the precursor to the modern Endangered Species Act (ESA). This California endemic species has one of the smallest habitat ranges of any ESA-listed species, spanning no more than 25 kilometers (~15 miles) in southern Santa Cruz County and northern Monterey County.
Often found in underground burrows in California’s forested uplands and shrublands near their breeding ponds and marshes, these glossy black, yellow-speckled amphibians face significant threats from habitat loss and climate change. Their habitats are being rapidly converted for agriculture and urban development. Additionally, their breeding ponds, crucial for their larvae, are drying up due to frequent and intense droughts driven by climate change. The loss of these ponds hinders reproduction and often leads to juvenile mortality, accelerating the salamander’s population decline.
While population data for the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander is unknown, breeding populations have significantly declined, with estimates suggesting they have halved from 30 to 16 between 1954 and 2019. Many southern breeding ponds have been completely destroyed, and others are estimated to have only 20-30 adults remaining. The remaining populations have also lost much of their genetic diversity, limiting their ability to adapt to environmental changes and increasing their risk of extinction.
Globally, amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates, with an estimated 41% at risk of extinction. Amphibians play crucial roles in their ecosystems, such as controlling insect populations, indicating the presence of toxins and pollutants, and serving as a food source for other animals. Their permeable skin makes them highly sensitive to environmental changes, making them essential indicators of ecosystem health.
Like many other amphibian species worldwide, the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander needs more protected habitat and urgent action to combat climate change.
Since its inception 18 years ago, the Photo Ark has worked to bring much-needed attention to species in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries through Joel Sartore’s award-winning photography. Species of all sizes, rare and common, are photographed in a distraction-free setting, allowing them to be appreciated for their unique attributes. Through this photography, the Photo Ark raises public awareness of the global extinction crisis, inspires action through education, and supports on-the-ground conservation efforts to protect wildlife.
