There are around 4,400 species of amphibians worldwide, divided into three orders: Anura, Caudata and Apoda. There are around 3,800 species of anurans (frogs and toads) worldwide, including 31 native species and 2 alien species in Taiwan. There are about 400 species of urodeles (newts and salamanders) worldwide, including three native species in Taiwan. As for apodans, there are around 160 species worldwide, but they never found in Taiwan.

Amphibians are heterothermic animals. There are more anurans in tropical and subtropical zones but more urodeles in temperate and cold zones.

Taiwan is located in the subtropical zone and amphibians can be found from its coastal areas to mountain areas at high altitudes. Taiwan has 34 species of amphibians, including 13 endemic species and 2 alien species.

These species can be categorized into seven groups, based on their habitats:

1. Mountain streams: Buergeria japonica, Bufo bankorensis, Rana swinhoana, Buergeria robusta, Rana kuhlii. Rana latouchii. Rana swinhoana and Buergeria robusta frequent rapid mountain streams and caves, while Rana kuhlii and Rana latouchii prefer slow mountain streams. Buergeria japonica like mild trickles on wide river bed.
2. Ponds and shallow water in marsh: Microhyla ornata, Chirixalus idiootocus, Rana longicrus, Hyla chinensis, Rana catesbiana, Rana adenopleura, and Polypedates megacephalus.
3. Deep-water ponds: Rana guentherger, Rana taioehensis, Rana catesbiana, Rana rugulosa, and Rana plancyi.
4. Grassland, paddy fields or tea gardens: Rhacophorus taipeianus, Bufo melanostictus, and Rana limnocharis. Rana longicrus and Rana rugulosa also inhabit this type of environment.
5. Forest ground: Microhyla heymonsi and Micryletta steinegeri.
6. Chirxalus eiffingeri prefers to breed in tree holes or hollow bamboos with water inside.
7. Hynobius arisanensis, Hynobius formosanus and Hynobius sonani inhabit forest ground at mid-to-high altitudes.

Over-developed of land has had negative impact on soil and water conservation. The deterioration of water quality in rivers, streams and ponds, along with the overuse of pesticide, has seriously damaged and polluted habitats of amphibians, leading to a gradual shrinkage in their populations and making their survival more difficult.