Globally, salamanders are in trouble. 2023’s State of the World’s Amphibians report, published by the IUCN Species Survival Commission Amphibian Specialist Group, reports that amphibians are the world’s most threatened vertebrate group, with 41% of species threatened with extinction.

Within the amphibians, salamanders are the most at risk, with 3 out of every 5 species threatened with extinction. However, small, rarely seen species like salamanders are often passed over for conservation funding in favor of large, charismatic animals.

The good news is that the same amount of money can often go further when put towards saving the “little guys.”