Amphibians by virtue of their thin, moist, permeable skins are poorly protected from harsh environments and are especially susceptible to chemical changes, desiccation, and alteration of their habitat. Accordingly, it is not surprising that they manifest exceptionally high rates of extinction and suffer more severe declines than do most other taxa in an environment undergoing unprecedented anthropogenic change. They are especially important to study as they serve as an early-warning system portending changes that are beginning to engulf more resistant species, including our own.

The current volume covers the 14 countries of the Middle East, each written by a specialist, and is part of the Amphibian Biology series.