2020 Status Update: Frosted Flatwoods Salamanders (Atlantic clade)

We can once again confirm that the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander, Ambystoma cingulatum, is not extinct in Georgia, though we did not find many (yet) in our surveys of the last known population of the species on the East Coast — Fort Stewart Army Base, Liberty County, GA.
Larval Flatwoods Salamanders are typically the target of field surveys, as they are difficult to detect in adult and egg stages.
Larval Flatwoods Salamander, in situ
For some background on the species status and conservation efforts, see previous blog articles on the topic here.

Tobias, the Director of Research at the Amphibian Foundation, showing off the first Flatwoods Salamander he has ever detected in the wild.
Ben Stegenga of the Orianne Society came to help survey. Here he is detecting his very first Flatwoods Salamander larvae. We know how he feels :)
Always nice to see Little Grass Frogs, Pseudacris ocularis
In situ Stegenga

Occasionally, Southern Cricket Frogs, Acris gryllus, are bright red! Here's one that turned up in our dipnet.
Tobias exchanging sentiments with a Ribbon Snake, Thamnophis suaritus.
The AF 'Larvae Lugger' after making its way to the salamander ponds at Fort Stewart.
Can you find the Flatwoods Salamander? The markings of a larval Flatwoods Salamanders enable it to blend in with the flooded grasslands in which they live.

Tobias (AF) and Roy King (Fort Stewart Fish & Wildlife) sampling in one of the historically occupied wetlands on the base.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ask the frog staff: How many tadpoles actually survive into adulthood?

Species Spotlights: Poison frogs and Glass frogs

Amphibians and Solar Eclipses — What to Expect