Reptiles Amphibians

Please note that the deadline to apply to the current ASA Disease Mitigation Grants call has been extended and the criteria expanded.

Infectious diseases are considered one of the leading threats to amphibians around the world, causing population declines and extinctions even in relatively pristine areas. Today, despite decades of research, there are still very few tools available for conservation practitioners to deal with the disease when it arrives in susceptible populations. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of effective strategies to address and combat these threats. The Amphibian Survival Alliance (ASA), with the support of Synchronicity Earth’s Amphibian Endowment Fund, founded in honour of Dr. George Rabb, aims to fund projects on disease mitigation that seeks to tackle this conservation challenge through science, policy and effective collaborations across disciplines.

Grant Criteria:

ASA Infectious Disease Mitigation Grants aim to facilitate projects that have the potential to inform the development of solutions or strategies for minimizing the impacts of amphibian diseases, and that may be candidates for ongoing funding. Grants of up to US$5,000 are currently available from ASA, and are organised in collaboration with Synchronicity Earth.

In this call, ASA welcomes applications from all regions of the world. Priority may be given to projects with direct application and relevance to on-the-ground disease management, and to projects that benefit amphibian populations in lower- and middle-income countries and where the lead or co-lead of the project is an early career researcher/conservationist based in the project country, although these requirements are not mandatory. All projects will be considered for funding on their own merits.

Likewise, projects in developing countries that are led by (or integrally include) local partners will be prioritised, as will projects that focus on globally Threatened/Data Deficient amphibian species. While we appreciate efforts to keep regionally threatened

A herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) survey conducted simultaneously in six protected areas of the Munnar wildlife division has recorded the presence of 60 species of amphibians and 74 reptiles.

The surveys were conducted simultaneously at the national parks of Eravikulam, Mathikettan Shola, Anamundi Shola and Pampadum Shola and the wildlife sanctuaries of Chinnar and Kurinjimala recently. Though individual surveys are conducted in each protected area, it was for the first time a herpetofaunal survey covering all of the protected areas were carried out, says the wildlife researchers involved in the programme.

The survey was led by S.V. Vinod, Wildlife Warden of the Munnar wildlife division; P.S. Easa, former director of the Kerala Forest Research Institute; and researchers Sandeep Das and K.P. Rajkumar.

Different habitats

The surveys covered the different habitats of the Munnar division spread across 230 square kilometres.

The presence of one caecilian, two shieldtails and one ground gecko, which could be new to science, was recorded. Detailed investigations were required to confirm the identity of the species, says Mr. Das.

Among the recorded reptiles, 29 are endemic to the Western Ghats.

Forty-five amphibians endemic to the Western Ghats, including Kadalar Swamp Frog, Toad Skinned Leaping Frog, Munnar Torrent Frog, Cold Stream Torrent Frog, and around 20 threatened species, including critically endangered species such as Resplendent Shrub Frog, Sushil’s Bush Frog, Anamala Gliding Frog and Griet Bush Frog were recorded in the survey, says a communication.

Gunther’s Toad, recorded only thrice from Kerala, was reported from multiple camps in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in good numbers.

The four-day survey, organised by the Kerala Forest and Wildlife department and Aranyakam Nature Foundation, witnessed around 100 forest officers and

KOKOMO, Ind. —As Michael Finkler’s class used net poles to push aside tall grass leading down to the still waters of Lake Sheryl, suddenly, something slithered by, slipping down into the water.

Without hesitation, Finkler dove sideways, arms outstretched, scrabbling through the grass, trying to capture the elusive copper bellied water snake, with no luck.

That’s all part of herping — searching for amphibians and reptiles.

Each week during the summer session, Finkler leads a Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles class to a new location, seeking specific species they’ve discussed in online lectures.

“I get to expose students to this whole hidden natural world,” said FInkler, professor of physiology. “The scope of the natural world around us is so much vaster than most people appreciate. There are enormous conservation concerns with many of these species, and people aren’t aware  of them because they are out of sight, out of mind.”

On this particular day, students slogged through the wetlands at the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, near Seymour. Armed with nets on long poles, they dipped into the water, looking to see what turned up, and used the pole ends to poke into the grass. They also peered under flat rocks in a creek bed and along a reservoir, hoping to find the endangered copper bellied water snake that was the focus of their day, as sightings have been reported there.

And while they might have only caught a fleeting glimpse of it, they saw plenty of other wildlife — including two midland water snakes, dozens of tiny juvenile five-lined skinks, tadpoles, and possibly northern leopard frogs.

Senior Grace Lefler was most excited about the skinks because she was the first person to be able to catch one.

“I started flipping over the rocks, so there wasn’t anywhere to hide,” she