Leo (July 23 — Aug. 22)
You're wondering how you could ever have overlooked something in your life that is so relevant and significant. Until now, it wasn't really necessary to keep it in mind. A whole new world has just opened for you. Although you may be hesitant today, don't turn away an offer because it doesn't seem good enough. Even the best opportunities won't shock and awe you with their potential, yet they will probably be very promising. Make no mistake; you will have to work harder than you think to make it happen. But the results will be well worth it.
Scorpio (Oct. 24 — Nov. 22)
Although, our problems seem to be thrust on us by an unfair destiny, they are all, actually, made to measure as a result of our attitudes. We choose the cloth, cut and colour of our garments. So, if you don't like what you have —change the material.
Pisces (Feb. 20 — March 20)
Honesty is the best policy, though it is one thing to tell the truth and quite another to spill the beans. There are some things that it is best for others not to know. Keep certain pieces of information under your hat, for now at least
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
LONDON–A giant Chinese salamander that predates Tyrannosaurus rex and the world's smallest frog are among a group of extremely rare amphibians identified by scientists today as being in need of urgent help to survive.
The Olm, a blind salamander that can survive for 10 years without food, and a purple frog that spends most of its life underground are also among the 10 most endangered amphibians drawn up by the Zoological Society of London.
"These species are the `canaries in the coal mine' – they are highly sensitive to factors such as climate change and pollution, which lead to extinction, and are a stark warning of things to come," said EDGE head Jonathan Baillie.
EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) is a project set up a year ago to identify and protect some of nature's most weird and wonderful creatures.
"The EDGE amphibians are amongst the most remarkable and unusual species on the planet and yet an alarming 85 per cent of the top 100 are receiving little or no conservation attention," said the project's amphibians chief Helen Meredith.
While last year's launch focused on at-risk mammals, this year the focus shifted to amphibians.
"These animals may not be cute and cuddly, but hopefully their weird looks and bizarre behaviours will inspire people to support their conservation," Meredith added.
Not only are the target species unique, the project itself is breaking new ground by using the Internet at www.zsl.org/edge to highlight threatened creatures. Global warming and human depredation of habitat are cited as root causes of problems facing the amphibians.
The Chinese giant salamander, a distant relative of the newt, can grow up to 1.8 metres in length while the tiny Gardiner's Seychelles frog when full grown is only the size of a thumbtack.
Also on this year's list is the limbless Sagalla caecilian, South African ghost frogs, lungless Mexican salamanders, the Malagasy rainbow frog, Chile's Darwin frog and the Betic midwife toad whose male carries fertilized eggs on its hind legs.
"Tragically, amphibians tend to be the overlooked members of the animal kingdom, even though one in every three amphibian species is currently threatened with extinction, a far higher proportion than that of bird or mammal species," said Baillie.
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