Status of amphibian imports to South Korea

A total of 167 species of pet amphibians were imported into Korea, accounting for 13.7% of the 1,215 amphibian species traded internationally (Hughes et al., 2021). Among the 22,572 individual amphibians imported, the order Anura accounted for the highest number with 126 species and 14,245 individuals, followed by Caudata with 39 species and 8,290 individuals, and then Gymnophiona with 2 species and 37 individuals (Table 1, Supplementary Table 1).

There has been a 48.2% increase in the number of Anura species compared to the 85 sold through domestic online pet shops, and a 5.4% increase compared to the 37 Caudata species previously recorded (Koo et al., 2020).

The number of imported species decreased from 118 species (14,726 individuals) in 2023 to 98 species (7,846 individuals) in 2024, indicating a 14.0% reduction in species and a 46.7% reduction in the number of individuals (Table 1). Additionally, Anura decreased slightly in species diversity from 84 species in 2023 to 82 species in 2024 (2.4% decrease), but the number of individuals increased by 1.9% from 7,054 to 7,191.

The overall decline in amphibian imports in 2024 compared to 2023 is primarily attributed to a significant reduction in Caudata, which reduced by 50.0% in species and 91.4% in the number of individuals (Table 1). It is presumed that the sharp decline in Caudata imports compared to Anura imports may be due to the more demanding requirements for maintaining their captive environments, such as precise humidity and temperature control; however, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions based on only two years of data.

The ornamental amphibians imported into Korea originated from 14 countries: Canada, Germany, the United States, the Czech Republic, Japan, Madagascar, Hungary, Malaysia, Taiwan, China (Hong Kong), Peru, Togo, Indonesia, and Colombia. Among these countries, Canada was the leading source, exporting 37 species to Korea, followed by Germany (30 species), the United States (29 species), the Czech Republic (28 species), Japan (22 species), Madagascar (20 species), and Hungary (17 species). These seven countries collectively accounted for 78.5% of the total amphibian species imported into Korea (Fig. 1).

Major species

Cynops pyrrhogaster (2,238 individuals) was the most frequently imported species among the imported amphibians, followed by Cynops ensicauda (2,207 individuals), Ceratophrys cranwelli (1,894 individuals), Cynops orientalis (1,605 individuals), Hymenochirus boettgeri (1,200 individuals), and then Pyxicephalus adspersus (1,130 individuals). Over 1,000 individuals were imported for each of these six species (three from the order Caudata and three from the order Anura; Fig. 2, Supplementary Table 1; GBIF, 2024a; 2024b; 2024c; 2024d).

Of the total amphibian species imported, 47 species (28.1%) were listed as internationally threatened species under the CITES, and this is a substantial increase of 80.8% compared to 2019 (Koo et al., 2020). These included 43 species from the order Anura and 4 species from the order Caudata (Supplementary Table 1). All of these species were categorized under CITES Appendix II, and they include species that are not currently threatened with extinction but may become so unless international trade is strictly regulated (CITES, 2025). Notably, the family Dendrobatidae (poison dart frogs), with 30 species, has the highest number of members in the order Anura. These frogs are generally small in size and are highly popular in the international pet trade due to their striking coloration and fascinating behavior (Gorzula, 1996; Kaczmarski & Kolenda, 2018; Prestridge et al., 2011; Ruland & Jeschke, 2017). Pet amphibians may escape from enclosures or be intentionally or accidentally released into the natural environment by private owners. Although most imported species originate from equatorial and tropical rainforest regions, such as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Madagascar, and are less likely to establish populations in the temperate ecosystems of Korea, their introduction could still lead to ecological disturbances through competition with native species for food and habitat or transmission of pathogens (Picco & Collins, 2008). Of a particular concern is the global amphibian trade, which has been identified as a major driver of the spread of infectious diseases caused by B. dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, posing serious threats to both wild and captive populations (Fisher & Garner, 2007; Martel et al., 2014; Nguyen et al., 2017).

All imported amphibians have the potential to become invasive alien species, similar to Lithobates catesbeianus, highlighting the importance of continuous management to prevent their release into natural ecosystems. It is also essential to strengthen both online and offline surveillance systems to detect and deter the illegal trade of such species (Koo et al., 2020). The first step in this management effort is to maintain an up-to-date list of introduced alien species. This list can be used to revise both the voluntary import restriction list (i.e., white list) and the current inventory of 25 alien amphibian species (NIE, 2021), thereby supporting targeted monitoring to assess the potential establishment and spread of these species within Korea’s ecosystems. Furthermore, it can serve as a valuable resource for monitoring the trade of internationally threatened species and for facilitating global cooperation in managing invasive alien species.