The Amphibian Foundation's Frog Blog

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I hope 2019 holds as much promise as this clutch of Spotted Salamander eggs inoculated with symbiotic algae. May this year be filled with equally beneficial symbiotic relationships which develop into something beautiful and marvelous. In other words: May 2019 be #AmphibiousAF #HappyNewYear !!! #Salamander #Salamanders #SalamandersOfInstagram #FrogLife #Crypsis #Mimicry #Symbiosis #AmphibiousAF #AmphibianFound #FrogsNeedOurHelp

- December 31, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BsDw592AJiX/

The amazing Fringed Leaf Frog, #Cruziohyla craspedopus is an Amazon canopy-dweller and rarely, if ever, comes to the ground. This mysterious and #cryptic species has some of the most elaborate camouflage in the amphibian world — possibly to avoid predation by monkeys. The fringes and coloration enable them to sleep during the day - in plain view - on a leaf. What would you do to avoid being eaten by monkeys? #Frog #Frogs #Frogger #Froggy #FrogsOfInstagram #LeafFrog #LeafFrogs #TreeFrog #TreeFrogs #FrogLife #Crypsis #Mimicry #EatenByMonkeys #AmphibiousAF #AmphibianFound #FrogsNeedOurHelp

- December 30, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BsBAjWPAtmo/

The Lemur Leaf Frog, #Agalychnis lemur is a #CriticallyEndangered species from #Panama and #CostaRica This species does have some lemur-like qualities, such as large (& extremely cute) eyes, and a preference to climb (rather than hop). We have been working for many years on the conservation of this species, and trying to save them from further declines. They have disappeared from pristine environments primarily due to #chytrid fungus, a lethal infectious disease that can wipe out up to 85% of the amphibians it infects. #LeafFrog #LeafFrogs #Frog #Frogs #FrogLife #Frogger #Froggy #FrogsOfInstagram #LemurFrog

- December 29, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Br-k_9jgTmU/

The Tiger-leg Monkey Frog, #Phyllomedusa tomopterna is from northern South America. It also has one of the coolest common names, rivaled in coolness perhaps by the Red-banded Crevice Creeper. What common names do you like? #Frog #Frogs #FrogsOfInstragram #Froggy #Frogger #MonkeyFrog #CommonName #CommonNames #FrogFriday

- December 28, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Br8N5nEg_if/

The Blue-sided Leaf Frog, #Agalychnis annae is an endangered species from central #CostaRica. This particular frog was reared from larva in 2003, so it is an old frog! This beautiful species has been declining since the 1980's - even from pristine and protected habitat - and is now listed as #Endangered by the IUCN. #LeafFrog #LeafFrogs #Frog #Frogs #FrogsOfInstagram #froggy #frogger

- December 27, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Br5ZkQdgpeb/

#Cochranella granulosa - the Granular Glass Frog asleep on a leaf. Although I am regularly surrounded by these incredible animals, I am still able to be blown away by their mysterious beauty. How about you? #Frog #Frogs #FrogsofInstagram #GlassFrog #GlassFrogs #AmphibianFoundation #amphibious

- December 26, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Br21SUYAGMl/

#MerryChristmas from all of us at the Amphibian Foundation — May your holidays be #AmphibiousAF #StayFrosty

- December 25, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Br0XMw0gFkh/

#Dendrobates auratus, the beautiful Green and Black Poison Frog is a toxic neotropical species. The skin of Poison Frogs include some of the most lethal organic compounds known to science, so if you find one in the wild, resist the temptation to lick it or stick it up your nose. Just FYI #ToxicAF #PoisonFrog #Frog #Frogs #FrogsofInstagram #froggy

- December 24, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrxlNj0Ax2j/

#Cruziohyla craspedopus - the Fringed Leaf Frog A beautiful, canopy-dwelling Amazonian frog in the family #Phyllomedusidae I post about his group often — I find them particularly captivating in appearance, behavior and reproductive biology, and have had the good fortune to work with many of these species. This lovely lady was captive-reared from wild-collected Peruvian larvae. #Frog #Frogs #FrogsofInstagram #TreeFrog #LeafFrog #BeautifulFrog #Peru #Amazon #AmazonFrogs #FrogsofAmazon #FrogsNeedOurHelp #AmphibianFound #AmphibianFoundation #AmphibiousAF

- December 23, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrvoOo_A4zl/

#Gastrotheca cornuta — The Eyelash Marsupial Frog is named for the pouch on the females back to carry her offspring through direct development. This species skips the free-swimming larval stage and tiny frogs emerge from her pouch once development is complete. This species belongs to the family #Hemiphractidae and many species in this family do wacky things with their developing offspring, such as carry them around in a pouch or just stick them to their back, as is the case with the Hemiphractid #BackpackFrogs

- December 23, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrvIv7zg9Lt/

#Cruziohyla calcarifer — aptly named the Splendid Leaf Frog, a beautiful species from the family #Phyllomedusidae which includes the Leaf and Monkey Frogs. Many species of Phyllomedusid frogs are under extreme pressure due to habitat loss, infectious disease and climate-related impacts.

- December 22, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrtIewaAMJK/

This series highlights some of the THOUSANDS of amphibian species which will ONLY breed in ephemeral wetlands. Pictured here is a Tiger Salamander, #Ambystoma tigrinum - which breeds in ephemeral wetlands. #SaveVernalPools #SaveEphemeralWetlands 3/3

- December 18, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BriKczjAt2Y/

Vernal Pools or Ephemeral Wetlands or Seasonal Pools are a type of temporary wetland that many amphibians (and other types of wildlife) rely on. Not only will many species ONLY breed in an ephemeral wetland, but some species, return each year to the wetland they were born in. This phenomenon is known as #SiteFidelity Protections for these vital wetlands has been slowly strengthening over the past decades, and are now in jeopardy of being removed altogether. Pictured here is an ephemeral wetland breeding species, the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander #Ambystoma cingulatum #SaveVernalPools #StayFrosty 2/3

- December 18, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BriJwLSg-ac/

#EphemeralWetlands — a vital resource for wildlife diversity including our beloved #Ambystoma are losing the limited protections they had. #Trump administration has deemed them 'not physically or meaningfully connected' and therefore not important enough to limit the agricultural and industrial runoff polluting these wetlands — According to planned changes in the #CleanWaterAct Not so much #DrainTheSwamp as 'fill it with contaminants' Amphibians are resilient, but another attack makes it that much harder for them to avoid further declines. #SaveVernalPools

- December 18, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BriHJDFgybu/

We are incredibly grateful for Joel's support with this critical research. @Regran_ed from @joelsartore - The frosted flatwoods salamander has suffered a 90% loss since 2000 and is at imminent risk of extinction. Once common throughout South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, the species is now only reliably detected in two disconnected populations in Florida’s panhandle. This October, Hurricane Michael threatened one of those populations with sea water from storm surge. It may be years before the hurricane’s impact is understood, a situation closely monitored by the federal Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team. One hope for the species rests in captive propagation and experimental release. This effort is advanced by the @amphibianfoundation which holds the only captive breeding colony on the planet. The salamander photographed here is part of that colony. To support the conservation of this species, and find out more, visit the link in my bio. - #StayFrosty

- December 16, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrdDVjuAvJ7/

#PrettyFrog The Mimic Poison Frog 'imitates' the pattern of other toxic frog species it is sympatric with. A great strategy! The frogs use their #aposematic (warning) coloration to boost the warning signal to predators. This signal is amplified by being shared across more than one species. If a predator learns to avoid one, it effectively avoids both. A phenomenon known as #Mullerian Mimicry

- December 14, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrX9-UkA1yH/

Get #SwampyAF and help us search for Georgia's Rarest Frog! If you are interested in getting out in the field with Amphibian Foundation staff we are developing plans to survey Alligator Creek (3 hours south of ATL) later this winter and spring. Just email: GopherFrog@amphibianfoundation.org and let us know!

- December 11, 2018

via Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrRDW2BAbZN/

Help Us Find Georgia's Rarest Frog — The Gopher Frog

- December 11, 2018

Today was the annual Georgia Gopher Frog Research and Conservation Summit . This year it was hosted here in Atlanta at the Amphibian Foundation. UGA (Maerz Lab), Zoo Atlanta, GA DNR and USFWS was in attendance. In all likelihood, the captive propagation program at AF (and also at Zoo Atlanta) will not produce eggs for experimental release this season as the frogs are still a bit young. We collectively decided to focus our attention on field surveys of known and historic ponds throughout Georgia. Georgia Gopher Frog Research and Conservation Summit, Amphibian Foundation, Dec 2018. The Amphibian Foundation has been tasked with leading field surveys at Alligator Creek WMA , about 3 hours south of Atlanta. Surveys probably will not start for weeks, but we are putting the word out to the public that we need help! If you would like to get out to the field and help us look for Georgia's rarest frog (or at least the eggs of GA's rarest frog) Please let us know. If you send...