The Amphibian Foundation

Craving something spicy this Sunday? You're not alone! This beautiful bufonid is the Asian Spiny Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus). They're often seen storming the streets in large numbers after monsoons, and love to eat scorpions! Toadally awesome!⁠

Safety comes first at AF--on and every day!

Curious about AF's visitor protocols? We've attached an excerpt sent to the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast team prior to their visit earlier this month! Be sure to check out "Episode 121: The Venom Lab", available now on Netflix and at the link below!

"You are the first crew visiting a lab in our new facility. Due to multiple emergent infectious reptile diseases heading north from Florida (and causing great harm to native reptile populations down there) plus the confirmed presence of several amphibian and reptile pathogens in the greater Atlanta area, we now maintain biosecure reptile labs to mitigate the risk of these pathogens infecting our facilities. There's a shallow Chlorhexidine footbath, which you can walk through easily with close-toed shoes (which we require for our staff in the Venom Lab). If you have any equipment that will be rolled into the lab, we'd like to roll that through the footbath as well. We have slip-over shoes if needed. Since we'll be discussing venomous animals, they will be behind plexiglass the whole time. If you did want to remove an animal for photography, we'd like to disinfect anything that might come into contact with the animal with ethanol (which we have onsite)."

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-stuff-to-blow-your-mind-21123915/episode/the-venom-lab-with-mark-mandica-345523367

Orange you glad it's ?

While the colorful dorsal patterns of the Emperor Newt (Tylototriton shanjing) may be a visual treat, they're also a biological cue for potential predators! Their aposematism (bright warning coloration) tells of the toxic fate awaiting anything that tries to take a bite out of royalty!

A Marble-ous sight!

On a 2023 Metro Atlanta surveying mission, AF Urban Ecologist Dr. Maura Dudley and accompanying Research Assistants in the Conservation Research Bridge Program found six Marbled Salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) with countless eggs under one log! Unlike most other Ambystoma species, Marbled Salamanders lay their eggs in the fall rather than in the spring. Females will guard the eggs in a depression such as this one until rain arrives and fills it with water!

Mesmerized by these eyes?

In addition to our regular posts on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, AF offers a free monthly virtual newsletter to subscribers written by Virtual Education Coordinator Erin Shebish! Subscribe now at the link below and don't miss out on longer-form updates on our latest research, construction updates, and plenty of photos!

https://the-amphibian-foundation-inc.kit.com/7dc2b491c6

A mind-blowing Monday announcement!⁠
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Last week, AF's educational facility welcomed Rob Lamb, Brock, JJ, and Jordan from Stuff To Blow Your Mind! Executive Director Mark Mandica was interviewed by this podcast team in our brand new Legacy Park location's Venom Lab! Tune in this Thursday, September 17 to hang out with this spicy group as they learn why AF works to elevate these beautiful and maligned creatures and turn !

Stealing hearts--and dirt hats!--this Monday!⁠
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Bandit the Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is one of Team Venom's most beloved animal educators! Along with fellow A. contortrix Puddles and Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) Persephone, they help Programs Coordinator Marjan Ghadrdan and our Team Venom instructors teach learners 18 and up how to safely handle and relocate venomous snakes! Ready to turn ? Learn more about Team Venom and view their upcoming in-person course offerings at the link below!

https://www.amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/venomous-af

Behind the Scenes Sunday!

AF Collections Volunteer Bill Bohling snapped this photo of one of our resident Waxy Monkey Frogs (Phyllomedusa sauvagii) while on duty!

Are you over 18 and able to commute to our Legacy Park educational facility? Volunteer with Bill and the rest of our Collections Team--no prior experience required! Follow the link below to get started!

https://www.amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/training

Barely hanging in there but still eager to become a ?

You're not late for glass--whoops, class! AF is still accepting registrations until September 15 at 11:55 PM EST for Fall 2026's virtual exploration of amphibian and reptile species like Fleischmann's Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni)! Our signature 16-week course for learners 18 and up is asynchronous and accessible from any time zone, detailing the life history, anatomy, evolution, and conservation of global amphibian and reptile species! Don't miss out--follow the link below!

https://www.amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/master-herpetologist-program/master-herpetologist-program-fall-ii-2026

Isn't the larva of a Frosted Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) incredible?⁠ Bold lateral stripes help developing larvae blend in with the flooded grasslands of their Southeastern flatwoods habitat.⁠
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If you missed the initial September 9 deadline to register for our Fall 2026 virtual course, don't fret! AF is still accepting registrations until September 15 at 11:55 PM EST for this virtual exploration of awe-inspiring species! Our signature 16-week course for learners 18 and up covers the life history, anatomy, evolution, and conservation of global amphibian and reptile species accessible around the world, with an asynchronous format! Follow the link below now and don't miss out!

https://www.amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/all-adult-programs/adult-courses-18/online/master-herpetologist-program-fall-ii-2026