Amphibians: dishes, remedies and their role in ecosystems

Abstract

Amphibians, such as frogs and axolotls, are not only common ingredients in traditional dishes and remedies in Mexico but also play vital roles in various ecosystems. These creatures have a life cycle that spans two distinct environments: water, where they appear as tadpoles, and land, where we identify them as frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Thanks to this unique characteristic, amphibians serve as crucial links in ecosystems, acting as a ‘nutrient bridge’ between aquatic and terrestrial environments. By feeding on insects, amphibians play a key role as pest controllers in certain crops and regulators of populations of disease-carrying insects. Unfortunately, numerous amphibian species face the danger of extinction, threatening both their ecological functions and their presence in traditional dishes and remedies.