Reptiles and Amphibians in the News!


Deadly Fungus at work in the wild

The fungal infection that has killed a record number of amphibians worldwide leads to deadly dehydration in frogs in the wild, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State University researchers.

Dead southern mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana muscosa) killed by the chytrid fungus. Sixty Lake Basin, Kings Canyon National Park, California USA. (Credit: Photo by Vance T. Vredenburg)

For the full text of the article go to:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120425193048.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Science%29

Our seventh grade students continue to turn up exciting specimens!  This hatchling red-bellied cooter was found by  Mrs. Thames class of Northern Middle School during an April 17 CHESPAX trip to King's Landing Park (Lower Marlboro, SE).  This little turtle may have recently emerged from hibernation as evidenced by the mud covering its plastron or top shell.in the photo below.   It is likely that this little cooter hatched late last summer or early in the fall of 2011.

Hatchling Red-bellied Cooter found by seventh grade students at King's Landing Park  (Lower Marlboro, SE)

Spotted Salamanders are the largest salamander native to Calvert County.  This species is a member of the group known as the "Mole Salamanders", named for their behavior of burrowing into the topsoil and leaf litter in search of earthworms and insects.

On rainy nights in the late winter, these salamanders migrate by the hundreds and even the thousands to small ponds throughout Calvert County to breed.  After mating and laying their eggs (see post from March 13, 2012)  the adult salamanders return to their forest habitat and burrow back into the earth,

Spotted Salamander collected near a home in Lusby, MD (Cove Point, CW) 

Our seventh grade SAV season began today with a visit from Ms. Deck's class from Plum Point Middle School.  Although our target was submerged aquatic vegetation, wildlife sightings are also a part of the data that is gathered by our students.

The sighting of a red-bellied turtle basking near SAV survey marker #2 and that of a green treefrog near the fishing pier are also valuable records for the MARA survey.  These animals both came from the Lower Marlboro, SE block.

Red-bellied Turtle from Cocktown Creek in Huntingtown

This Green Treefrog was found by a Plum Point Middle School  class during their CHESPAX trip