Tiny turtle time! Common snapping turtle hatchlings typically emerge between August and October, but sometimes overwinter as eggs emerging the following spring! Young turtles instinctively head toward water, but are vulnerable to predators and vehicles. 📷 Courtney Celley/USFWS

Let’s rock ‘n’ rattle! 🤘🐍 Like rock ‘n’ roll, a rattlesnake's rattle grabs attention. It evolved partially to say, 'Hey, I’m here, don’t step on me!'—saving energy and venom for hunting, not defense. 📸 Mark Danaher/USFWS

Word of the day: Poikilotherm! Blainville horned lizards are poikilotherms, meaning they can't control their body temperature on their own. In the morning, you'll find them basking in the sun to warm up, & by the afternoon, they burrow in the sand to beat the heat.

TMNT! Cowabunga! Hatchling eastern chicken turtles start at just about 1 in. in diameter. As adults, the males of these totally radical (but no longer teenage) turtles grow up to about 6.5 in., while the females may grow to around 10 in. 📷: Nicole Dahrouge #TurtleTuesday

#CritterCaretakers is AF's answer to those looking for an online course focused on teaching best care practices for captive herpetofauna to students ages 10-15! Follow the link below to learn more and register for October 5's start date! amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/crit…

An #AmphibiousAF educational triple threat!⁠ ⁠ From Critter Cafe's parent-child programming to Critter Class's more independent environment, we have a hands-on course that's perfect for your Metro Atlanta learner! Explore our upcoming dates below! amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/all-…

A group of researchers have assessed and redefined the species boundaries of the 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘺𝘪 species complex, & described two new species from the Andes of Ecuador. Full report here: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.… Photos © Daniela Franco-Mena & Jaime Culebras

Helen the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is our facility's newest resident! Learn the same techniques AF uses to provide the best care possible for our animals in our online Husbandry and Captive Management course! Register below! amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/husb…

Help us welcome Jess with some big snappy smiles! Jess Meck is our newest team member, & as the Conservation Programs Support Specialist, she’s helping to coordinate our many species recovery & habitat protection and restoration projects – as well as our conservation policy work!

#ThrowbackThursday! Joel Sartore (Joel Sartore), leader of National Geographic's Photo Ark project, stopped by our Atlanta, GA facility in November 2023 to capture photos of the beautiful Henrietta, AF's resident Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia)! @natgeo

Frank, our big Burmese Python (Python bivittatus), understands needing an extra minute or two to get where you need to go! AF's 100% online Master Herpetologist course is still accepting registrations for our Fall II session through 9/18. Register below! amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/mast…

Choose your #CritterParty characters! Whether you'd rather toast with toads or shimmy with snakes, AF's Critter Parties are the highly-customizable event packages Atlanta herpers dream of! Follow the link below to learn more and book now! amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/crit…

The landscapes of the US are like a mosaic, with each ecosystem & each species within it working together to create a magnificent larger picture. To ensure its integrity and beauty, PARCAs act as strategically chosen, integral tiles. #NewBlogPost: ARCProtects.org/parca 📷 USGS

There's no need to be afraid this #Fridaythe13th! One of our resident Blue-sided Tree Frogs (Agalychnis annae) is ready to square up and stand tall against anything #SpookyAF this #FrogFriday! #Agalychnis #Agalychnisannae #BluesidedTreeFrog #TreeFrog #Frog #Frogs

A marvelous Marbled mama! AF's Urban Ecologist Maura Dudley and Research Coordinator Roxana Pena were joined by Constitution Lakes Park Ranger Tasha on a recent survey, where they rolled up 2024's first Atlanta Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)!

Don't get "eft" behind! Want to get the inside scoop on this unique salamander life stage? Eft ecology (and much more #AmphibiousAF knowledge) awaits you in our #SoutheasternMasterHerpetologist course! Register below for our October 31 start date! amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/sout…

🐢: “What do I look like to you, a helipad?” 🐉🪰: “Well, actually... yes.” Hey, when you’re flying around and you need a rest, a shell is just as good as a rock! Both dragonflies and softshell turtles enjoy basking in the sun, why not do it together? 📸Grayson Smith/USFWS

From fear to fascination through education! AF's Venomous Training and Certification workshops welcome all students 18+ able to travel to our Atlanta, GA facility for this training opportunity! Follow the link below to browse our 2024 and 2025 dates! amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/veno…

What does the rough-skinned newt have in common with a pufferfish? Tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin which can cause paralysis & may even lead to death. When handled, it can cause skin irritation, so you can spot this amphibian along North America’s west coast... but don't touch!

AF's online 18+ #HusbandryandCaptiveManagement course centers around best practice lectures from professionals at the forefront of herpetofauna care. #CritterCaretakers is our #AmphibiousAF version of this material for students 10-15! Register below! amphibianfoundation.org/index.php/husb…