African Amphibian Conservation Research Group

30/08/2026

Scientists have discovered seven new species of Madagascar’s elusive diamond frogs, using DNA from modern and century-old museum specimens to solve a long-running biological puzzle. The findings reveal surprising hidden diversity and could help protect these little-known amphibians as their forest...

29/08/2026

The wait is almost over.
Prof du Preez, Dr Phaka and Dr Tarrant from our group jointly contributed 3 chapters to this much anticipated book.

Amphibians are among the most threatened vertebrates on Earth. 'Trends and Challenges in Amphibian Conservation' brings together leading scientists and practitioners to examine the current state of conservation worldwide.

Link in the comments.

19/08/2026

Congrats to our PhD student Tiaan Botha for winning 1st prize for his talk at this year’s edition of the NWU UESM Postgrad conference.

18/08/2026

This is something a hungry frog would post.

08/08/2026

If you’re driving around parts of Cape Town at night, keep an eye out for some very small road users. Toad crossing season is here, and endangered Western leopard toads are once again making their annual journey to breeding wetlands.

07/08/2026

We're confident that most people on this page like frogs. But do you feel the same about other animals? One of the newest projects our group is associated with wants to know how you feel about animals.

Take the survey:

A survey of human perception for species

30/07/2026

Freshly minted Masters graduates from our group. A hearty congratulations to Karla, Lizzy and Francois.

30/07/2026

Our PhD student Tiaan Botha recently shared our Rain Frog research with Getaway Magazine
https://www.getaway.co.za/

13/07/2026

You might know this tiny frog for its unforgettable squeak — but it's making headlines for a different reason.

The desert rain frog has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) list of threatened species after researchers found its specialized coastal habitat in Namibia and South Africa is under increasing pressure from mining and planned energy development. Scientists estimate the frog's population could decline by about 20% over the next two decades.

Because the species is found nowhere else on Earth, protecting its unique habitat will be key to its future. Conservationists say there is still time to safeguard the frog if those habitats are carefully managed and restored.

09/07/2026

Radio Feature | Prof. Louis Du Preez on RSG 🎙️🐸

Prof. Louis Du Preez from the North-West University was recently featured in a 30-minute RSG interview titled “’n Padda is ’n ding wat spring, of nie?”

In this fascinating discussion, Prof. Du Preez shares his expertise on frogs and amphibians, including why frogs enter homes, whether they are poisonous, how they survive winter, and the important role they play in the environment.

With more than 30 years of research on frogs and parasites, Prof. Du Preez and his co-researchers have also recorded the unique calls of 160 different frog species.

Another wonderful example of NWU and UESM research making science accessible to the public.

🎧 Listen to the full interview here:
https://www.rsg.co.za/rsg-fm/potgooisnitte/n-padda-is-n-ding-wat-spring-of-nie-deur-kobus-rudolph/


African Amphibian Conservation Research Group NWU FNAS Student Chapter NWU Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences NWU Water Research Group NWU Climatology Research Group_CRG NWU Forb Ecology Research Group - FERG NWU Microbiology NWU Green Team NWU - North-West University