The Amphibian Foundation's Frog Blog

This semester, the Garden's Department of Research and Conservation collaborated with GA Tech's School of Biology to offer a research course in aspects of  functional morphology . As one of my favorite subjects of all time, functional morphology — or biomechanics  — investigates animal movements (often with the help of x-ray and/or high-speed videography) to gain a better understanding of how animals successfully project their tongues, locomote, capture prey, swim, burrow or practically anything one can measure and sequence. The Biomechanics of Amphibian Feeding class of 2014 . From the top left: Alison Burger, Allison Miles, Emily Stephens, Rachel Whitmire, Courtney Pettiford, Erin Gish. Middle left: Paul Sanders, Leslie Phillips (Garden Teaching Assistant), Alexis Noel (GA Tech Teaching Assistant) Courtnae Ramser, Anna Morocco, Blake Christianson. Front Row: Instructors Dr David Hu and Mark Mandica The class was offered to 10 graduating seniors at GA Tech and the pu...

Five-lined skinks,  Plestiodon fasciatus are common throughout the Garden ... particularly the Parterre Garden Two issues of ' Clippings ' ago ... we featured Reptiles in the Rotunda — highlighting some of the reptilian species lurking in the trop house and conservatory. There are many reptile species in the conservatory. The orchid center, including the high elevation house, orchid house and atrium also provide refuge for many native and non-native reptile species. In this post we feature some of the scaly critters here as well as some of the folks that love them.... Amphibian Specialist, Leslie Philips and Conservatory Director, Ron Determann checking out some new hatchling turtles Ron inspecting Carmine, our conservatory resident Alligator Snapper , who was being weighed while we cleaned out his pond Can you spot the Oustalet's Chameleon ( Furcifer oustaleti ) in this picture? (see below) There are a bunch of them in the conservatory and they are doin...