Amphibians

Class Amphibia comprises about 6,000 species of vertebrates that spend their first period of life in fresh water but as adults are able to survive on dry land. Nonetheless, even as adults, amphibians require moisture and their skin is constantly wet. Their thin wet skin serves them as a respiratory system, but also makes them very susceptible to infection. Because of their high sensitivity to pollutants, they offer effective live indicators of the level of contamination of their habitats, mainly seasonal water bodies. 

Since the 1980s, a dramatic reduction in their populations has been recorded worldwide, Israel included. This deterioration indicates the hazardous situation faced by seasonal water bodies.

The Zoological Research Garden hosts six of the seven species of amphibians that live in Israel, and is involved in many nature conservation projects of these species, all of which are in danger of extinction.