• Frosted Flatwoods Salamander

    Flatwoods Salamanders have suffered a 90% loss in population since 2000, and are considered to be at imminent risk of extinction.
    The Amphibian Foundation is working with many state, federal and academic partners on a federal Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team to save this species from extinction.
    Starting with the first captive propagation colony developed for the species, the Foundation will release offspring into protected habitat.

    Photo by Joel Sartore / Nat Geo Photo Ark

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    The Amphibian Foundation relies on support in the form of annual and sustaining memberships. Our membership program provides the support needed to continue our conservation programs & gives members opportunities to get further involved!

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BREAKING NEWS - Saving a Species: Imperiled Salamander Breeds in Captivity for First Time

ATLANTA – February 3, 2022 - The Amphibian Foundation has successfully bred one of the world’s most imperiled species, the frosted flatwoods salamander, in captivity for the first time. The Atlanta-based nonprofit’s success marks the first phase of a conservation strategy aimed at saving a unique species at imminent risk of extinction.

Read The Press Release Read and Hear the NPR article

Species
Ambystoma cingulatum

Range
Flatwoods salamanders are endemic to the Gulf & Atlantic coastal plains where they occurred in what were historically Longleaf pine flatwoods & savannas.

Declines
Flatwoods Salamanders have suffered a 90% reduction in population since 2000, placing them at imminent risk of extinction in the next 5-10 years unless we are able to reverse the declines and recover these species. We need to save this beautiful species before it is too late!

Habitat
Flatwoods Salamanders are temporary wetland breeding amphibians, and breed in fish-less wetlands that dry out periodically throughout the year. They are Longleaf Pine ecosystem endemics. This ecosystem has been reduced to 3% of it's original range in the southeastern coastal plain.

Threats
Major threats include loss of habitat and fire suppression. Flatwoods Salamanders need open canopy pine savannahs with wiregrass and this habitat disappears when naturally occurring wild fires are suppressed. Because of this, Flatwoods Salamanders are even disappearing from protected lands.

Recovery Plan
The Amphibian Foundation is working closely with USFWS, USGS, GA DNR, and others to establish captive propagation colonies of Ambystoma cingulatum. We hope to breed this species in the next year and produce offspring which can then be released into properly managed habitat in GA, SC and FL. The captive propagation colony resides in our outdoor conservation lab: the Amphibian Research and Conservation Center (ARCC).


Learn More About Flatwoods Salamanders


Learn More About the ARCC

Did You Know?

There is only one wetland left in the entire state of Georgia with Frosted Flatwoods Salamanders.

This species was once common throughout the coastal plain, and now it is only known from one degraded wetland in southeastern GA. As Longleaf Pine habitat continues to decline, it becomes less and less likely that there are viable populations out there undetected.

Frosted Flatwoods Salamander Conservation Breeding Working Group

Frosty Working Group logo


Where will our babies go?

If you haven't heard — After 10 years of research, biologists at the Amphibian Foundation have successfully bred the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander, Ambystoma cingulatum, for the first time ever! This achievement was reached through the perserverence of a passionate partnership of agency and zoo professionals, as well as academics. It also opens up the possibilities of asking some new questions, like 'Where will our babies go?'

With USFWS, we have built a new Working Group for the species, the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander Conservation Breeding Working Group. This group, consisting of zoos, fisheries, universities, and NGOs will be singularly focused on taking the successful captive propagation protocols developed at the Amphibian Foundation, exporting them to these partner facilities to further develop them, while increasing the number of healthy Frostys we can produce each year!


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Free Flatwoods Salamander life-cycle poster and lesson plan!

Through a partnership with US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Center for Biological Diversity, we are able to offer this incredible poster, and supplemental lesson plan on Flatwoods Salamanders and the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem for free to all schools in the range of the species (SC, GA, FL). Click the link to learn more and order yours!

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AF in the Field

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team 2017 - Eglin AFB

Flatwoods Salamander Recovery Team 2017 - Eglin AFB

John Jensen and Cottonmouth -  Ocmulgee

John Jensen and Cottonmouth - Ocmulgee

Agkistrodon piscivorus
Fall Line SandHills WMA 2017

Fall Line SandHills WMA 2017

Ryan Myers - Fall Line WMA

Ryan Myers - Fall Line WMA

John Jensen with Gopher - Frog Fall Line WMA

John Jensen with Gopher - Frog Fall Line WMA

Lithobates capito
KSU Biology Mole Salamander Team - Pigeon Mountain WMA

KSU Biology Mole Salamander Team - Pigeon Mountain WMA

Ambystoma talpoideum
John Jensen And Leslie Phillips - Fort Stewart

John Jensen And Leslie Phillips - Fort Stewart

Ambystoma cingulatum
Ryan Means, Leslie Phillips and John Jensen - Fall Line WMA

Ryan Means, Leslie Phillips and John Jensen - Fall Line WMA

Notophthalmus perstriatus
Newt Marking Team - Monson Sandhills

Newt Marking Team - Monson Sandhills

Notophthalmus perstriatus
John Jensen with Marbled Salamanders - Ocmulgee

John Jensen with Marbled Salamanders - Ocmulgee

Ambystoma opacum
Ryan Means And Leslie Phillips - Fall Line WMA

Ryan Means And Leslie Phillips - Fall Line WMA

Notophthalmus perstriatus
Anthony Mandica and John Jensen - Mayhaw

Anthony Mandica and John Jensen - Mayhaw

Hyla gratiosa