Tracking the hidden trade of non-native pet amphibians in the United States
Abstract
The global wildlife trade is contributing to biodiversity loss, with amphibians especially vulnerable and overlooked in trade regulations. The trade in pet amphibians is a growing area of concern, and though there are notable benefits from keeping amphibians, the trade is also associated with introducing invasive species, spreading diseases, and overexploiting wild populations. Despite such risks, we lack a full understanding of the origins of traded species and the ways they enter markets. We combined online ads and import records to analyze the sourcing and pricing of pet amphibians traded in the United States, identifying species likely sourced from domestic production and unrecorded channels. Of the 301 species sold online, we identified 30 advertised more often than expected from import records, indicating they are primarily produced domestically. We also found 18.1% of traded non-native species had no import record and were sold at a 40.4% premium. Brazil, China, and Colombia stood out as countries with native species that were unrecorded in import records. Import at the genus-level was the most common way unrecorded species arrived in U.S. markets, but we also found instances of mislabeling, laundering, and suspected smuggling. The greatest number of imports at the genus-level were from Madagascar, Malaysia, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Our findings show the value of combining classifieds data with import records to identify illicit trade pathways and a need for improved record keeping. To move toward sustainable trade, we advocate engaging with domestic breeders and consumers while improving amphibian identification tools for inspecting wildlife shipments.
Edmonds, D., Du, J., Stickley, S., & Sucre, S. (2026). Tracking the hidden trade of non-native pet amphibians in the United States. Biological Conservation, 315, 111714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.111714