A review of the international trade in amphibians:the types, levels and dynamics of trade in CITES-listed species

Globally, amphibians face many potential threats,

including international trade. However, there is a lack of

knowledge regarding the types, levels and dynamics of the

amphibian trade at the global scale. This study reviewed

the trade in CITES-listed species between 1976 and 2007.

Four main trade groups (eggs, skins, meat and individuals)

were identified. Trade in amphibian leather focused on

Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (5,572 individuals), whereas trade

in eggs focused on Ambystoma mexicanum (6,027 eggs).

However, for the entire study period (1976–2007), trade in

skins and eggs was small compared with trade in meat

and live animals. The meat trade was estimated to be worth

.USD 111 million, whereas the trade in live animals was

estimated to be worth .USD 11.5 million in only three of

the genera involved. Trade dynamics have changed as a

result of changes in legislation, such as a ban on H. tigerinus

exports from Bangladesh for meat. Within the live trade

22 species categorized as either Critically Endangered or

Endangered were traded during the study period, and these

require greater attention. International trade and potential

conservation benefits are affected by countries supplying

captive-bred individuals to their domestic markets as this

trade goes unrecorded. However, this study only investigated

trade in species listed by CITES, and other species may

comprise a significant additional component of international

trade. The trade in amphibians is dynamic, and

changes in both the types of trade and the species concerned

were identified over the study period. Conservation concerns

have multiplied from issues concerning population

depletions to include indirect impacts associated with

disease, predation and competition, which requires a

reappraisal of data capture and reporting.