The Amphibian Foundation's Frog Blog

State Biologists and Herpetologists for Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Daniel Sollenberger (left) and Thomas Floyd in the Flatwoods Salamander Lab at the Amphibian Foundation. Daniel holding one of our adult Frosted Flatwoods Salamanders. This particular animal was reared from wild-collected larvae detected at Fort Stewart, GA in 2015. Daniel Sollenberger from GA DNR has recently taken over for John Jensen, who is now retired. We look forward to continued partnership with Daniel and GA DNR as we work together to protect Georgia's most imperiled amphibian species. John continues to serve on the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board, and we are grateful we can stay connected with him in this fight.

This past Saturday was the very first class, of the very first offering of the Master Herpetologist Program. This program is offered at the Amphibian Foundation and instructed by Foundation staff, as well as Zoo Atlanta and was started by an introductory class lead by state Herpetologist for GA DNR — John Jensen. John Jensen (DNR) leading the first class of the Master Herpetologist Program in the Amphibious AF Meeting Room at the Amphibian Foundation. John showing off one of our native salamander species — a Tiger Salamander ( Ambystoma tigrinum ) John Jensen showing off Georgia's rarest frog, the Gopher Frog ( Lithobates capito ) 'Vinnie' the house tortoise in the meeting room enjoyed all the company and wasn't oo distracting during class. Vinnie is a Cherry-head Redfoot Tortoise ( Chelonoidis carbonaria ) For moe information on the program, see the Master Herpetologist Program

Miranda Gulsby in Pettyjohns Cave with her first ever Cave Salamander ( Eurycea lucifuga ) — Also, she was sporting my Flatwoods Salamander design SEPARC shirt. Just a very salamandery shot. Drs Ensign and McNeal's KSU Biology course, with state Herpetologist and Amphibian Foundation Scientific Advisory Board member John Jensen. The professors let me enlist the students to help collect paedomorphic Mole Salamanders ( Ambystoma talpoideum ) for our captive breeding program @ #MetaMo @amphibianfound Mole Salamanders are both a species, and a family of salamanders. The family: Ambystomatidae is so named due to the fact that most species of this family are fossorial (spend the majority of the time underground). The chunkiest of the bunch is Ambystoma talpoideum , the Mole Salamander. These adorable ambystomatids, the Mole Salamanders ( Ambystoma talpoideum ) have large heads, and short, stocky bodies Mole Salamanders (the species) have an interesting reproductive stra...

 Lots of hope, direction, skill and expertise being focused on these beautiful and highly imperiled amphibians. Here is a slide from my presentation on the status of the #FrostedFlatwoodsSalamander #ExSitu #CaptiveBreeding Program showing the two age classes (and biogeographic regions) we have represented thus far. #Ambystoma #Ambystomacingulatum #Ambystomatidae #AmphibianConservation #AmphibianConservationProgram #FrogsNeedOurHelp #SalamandersNeedourHelp #AtlantaBotanicalGardenConservation #EndangeredSpecies #AtlantaBG #FrogsOfInstagram #SalamandersOfInstagram #frogs #frog #salamanders #salamander #ribbit #CaptiveBreeding #CaptiveBred #ExSitu #InSitu #CaptiveAssuranceColony #USGS #USFWS #SAZoo #GADNR #FFWCC

John Jensen, state Herpetologist for GA DNR was recognized for his incredible conservation efforts this year by receiving the Haskell Award for 2015 The  Alison Haskell Award for Excellence in Herpetofaunal Conservation  is presented by Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), in memory of  Alison Haskell  (1956 – 2006). This award is intended to recognize an individual from North America who exemplifies extraordinary commitment to herpetofaunal conservation, has thus far been an unsung hero, and has shown exemplary commitment to building or strengthening partnerships. Alison was one such person.   We are proud to announce the 2015 recipient of the Alison Haskell Award is   John Jensen.  John is currently the state Herpetologist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. John has directly contributed to the conservation of imperiled amphibians and reptiles, in particular Gopher Frogs and Indigo Snakes, through many suc...