Cold-blooded commerce: A literature review on the impacts of the amphibian and reptile pet trade in Canada and the U.S.

The global trade in amphibians and reptiles as pets, while offering certain private and economic benefits, also poses complex ecological, species conservation, animal welfare, and public health challenges. Although considerable research has referred to the public health and ecological impacts of this trade, such as the spread of zoonotic diseases, the introduction of invasive species, and the overharvesting of wild populations, there remains a significant gap in understanding its full spectrum of impacts. We assessed the existing literature on the amphibian and reptile pet trade in the United States and Canada, examining a range of both positive and negative impacts (both monetary and non-monetary). Our findings showed that research predominantly focused on negative impacts related to biodiversity conservation and public health, with limited attention paid to the trade's economic and animal welfare impacts. The majority of negative impacts reported constitute hidden costs of the trade, externalised to society and wild populations. Comprehensive impact analyses were virtually absent, but the available evidence indicated broadly referenced negative impacts at private and social levels, as well as a scattered, unsystematic account of positive impacts across all impact categories. We identify knowledge gaps, discuss their implications, and offer recommendations for future research. These include adopting cross-disciplinary approaches to integrate economic, ecological, and public health data; increasing research on various stages of the supply chain; and increasing focus on underrepresented taxa. Addressing these deficiencies is essential for developing sustainable and humane decision making related to amphibian and reptile trade in the U.S., Canada, and globally. • The amphibian and reptile pet trade poses a variety of challenges. • Our literature review shows a broad variety of externalised impacts of this trade. • Ecological and public health costs are well documented but big knowledge gaps remain. • We found critical gaps in the trade's economic and animal welfare impacts. • Cross-disciplinary approaches are needed including focusing on supply chain research.