A new species of limbless amphibian Ichthyophis davidi from the
bordering districts of Goa and Karnataka states of Western Ghats

In a joint effort by the researchers Dr. Gopalakrishna Bhatta of Department of Biology, BASE Educational Services Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru; Dr. K.P. Dinesh and Dr. C. Radhakrishnan of Western Ghats Regional Centre, Calicut; Mr. P. Prashanth of Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, Agumbe and Mr. Nirmal U Kulkarni of Mhadei Research Centre, Chorla Ghats have discovered a new species of limbless yellow striped caecilian from the Belgaum district of Karnataka which is part of the Western Ghats of India.
The new species Ichthyophis davidi is one of the largest known yellow striped caecilian from Western Ghats and is named in honor of Dr. David Gower, Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London in recognition of his contributions to Indian caecilian studies. The common name suggested for the species is Chorla Giant striped Ichthyophis.

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Cameron Diaz has been quoted as saying “I’d kiss a frog even if there was no promise of a Prince Charming popping out of it. I love frogs”. However, Cameron has yet to take any action to protect the frogs she claims to love. Furthermore, when we offered Cameron’s publicist Brad Cafarelli a list of five simple ways Cameron could help SAVE THE FROGS!, Brad told us that “unfortunately Cameron will be unable to participate in the campaign”.

So if you agree with us that Cameron Diaz would (1) look great in a 100% organic cotton SAVE THE FROGS! t-shirt that she can wear while recording a Public Service Announcement for SAVE THE FROGS!, and that (2) she should invite the media along with her to attend a lecture on the amphibian extinction crisis; and (3) she should be a guest of honor at a SAVE THE FROGS! fundraiser, please sign this petition asking Cameron Diaz to stand by her words and help SAVE THE FROGS!

Amphibian populations worldwide are in the midst of a mass extinction crisis, yet most people are completely unaware! We need your help in getting the word out. This contest will raise awareness of the amphibian extinction problem by getting people involved and interested. The best frog poems will be used in a book of frog poetry that will be sold to raise money for amphibian conservation efforts. This book will feature artwork from our concurrent 1st Annual Frog Art Contest.

So hurry and submit your best frog poetry, because there are CASH PRIZES, and the deadline is July 10th!
Tell your friends and fellow frog poets too!

I Am

A Frog Poem by Heather Lonczak

I am stillness.
A trickling fountain.
A lullaby.

I am a whimsical collection.
A painting; a trinket.
A masterpiece!

I am a children’s game.
A princess and a dream.
A kiss.

I am a memory; a yearning.
Flirtation and fire flies.
A scream.

I am dazzling in green!
Graceful and aerodynamic.
Poisonous.

I am a moonlit serenade.
Tall grass and cat tails.
The earth.

I am change; adaptation.
A mystery and an answer.
A lesson.

I am a perfect specimen.
Unconsented, without a name.
Afraid.

I am an essential relation.
A dwindling breed.
Balance.

I am a microcosm
Of all that we have
And think that we need.

I am flamboyant obscurity.
I’ll slip through your fingers.
Catch me! I dare you.

I am a frog. Nothing more.
And far more than I seem.

One of the truly fantastic things about being American as is that we are the only group of people in the universe who are eligible for SAVE THE FROGS! Platinum Visa Cards. As the cards have NO ANNUAL FEE, and as SAVE THE FROGS! receives a $50 donation from the issuing bank after your first purchase (yes you only need to make ONE purchase), and as it only takes 5 minutes to apply for the card, we sincerely hope that you will immediately apply for one of these incredibly cool looking cards, which feature your choice of the Southern Orange-eyed Treefrog, the Lacelid frog, the Emerald-spotted Treefrog or the Blue Poison Dart Frog.
http://savethefrogs.com/visacard

If we all come together in patriotism and unity on this single occasion, and we all apply for and make a SINGLE PURCHASE with our ridiculously cool looking SAVE THE FROGS! Platinum Visa Card, for which SAVE THE FROGS! receives a percentage of every purchase you ever make with it, at NO EXPENSE to you, we will raise thousands of dollars with which to save the frogs from their imminent extinction!
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!

What can this money do?
(1) Fund grants and scholarships for scientists to conduct important research on amphibians.
(2) Help us purchase land to protect critically threatened amphibian populations.
(3) Pay for Public Service Announcements to go up in visible locations around the country and educate people so they reduce their impact on the environment.
(4) Help us in our fight to ban pesticides like atrazine, which cause limb deformities and hermaphroditism in frogs.
(5) Enable us to create and distribute FREE educational materials to schools, museums and zoos worldwide.

So please sign up for the SAVE THE FROGS! Platinum Visa Card today. It will take you 5 minutes, and is something you will feel good about!
http://savethefrogs.com/visacard

Thanks, Kerry

Here’s another easy way to raise money and awareness for SAVE THE FROGS!

Just start using the new SAVE THE FROGS! Visa Platinum Rewards card for your everyday purchases. The first time you use it, the issuing bank will donate $50 to SAVE THE FROGS!, and they’ll continue to donate a percentage of all future purchases to SAVE THE FROGS! so that we can protect amphibian populations in your backyard and worldwide — all at no cost to you.

Plus, you’ll be earning rewards points at hundreds of national merchants, which can be redeemed for merchandise, account credits and Free tickets on over 175 airlines, with no blackout dates! Oh yeah, did we mention there is NO ANNUAL FEE?

Please join me today in choosing and using the only card that supports SAVE THE FROGS! and earns you valuable rewards at the same time. Go to http://www.cardpartner.com/app/save-the-frogs to request your card today.

Thanks for your support!
Kerry

P.S. The cards feature fantastic frog photos taken by myself and SAVE THE FROGS! Board Member Jason Ayres. These are by far the coolest looking Visa Cards on the planet!

NEWS RELEASE
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas

http://www.cnah.org

17 February 2009

Job Announcement

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN (AMPHIBIANS)
GS-0404-08 USGS
PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER

The USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative Northeast program will be hiring a full time biological science technician to support research in amphibian populations in the northeastern United States.

This is a term position: to be filled for one year, renewable for up to three years. The technician will be a member of a science team conducting amphibian surveys at National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia (e.g. C&O Canal National Historic Park, Patuxent Research Refuge, Prince William Forest Park, Rock Creek Park, and Shenandoah National Park).

Field work involves identifying, catching, measuring, and marking amphibians, and collecting water quality and environmental data. The technician will be required to conduct field surveys using techniques including visual encounter surveys, dip netting, stream transect searches, temporary removal sampling, and conducting a mark-recapture study using visual implant elastomer. All fieldwork will be conducted as part of teams of 2-3
people, so a demonstrated ability and desire to work effectively with a group is imperative.

In addition, the technician provides support for the ARMI lead researcher by completing data processing (data entry and quality control). The technician creates summaries, and conducts preliminary analyses as directed by supervisory researchers. The technician also completes graphical presentations of field and laboratory data as needed for publication and other presentations. The position also requires database and website management.

Previous field experience with amphibians common in the northeastern US is highly recommended. The position requires the use of GPS units, digital cameras, and computer software for data entry and presentation (e.g. Microsoft Excel, Access). The successful applicant may also be asked to mark amphibians with injectable florescent elastomer.

Most of the work is outdoors, sometimes under harsh or hot conditions or in rain. The position requires good physical condition, as the job requires long hours in the field (including some night-time surveys) and hiking with up to 25 pounds of equipment. Some overnight travel may be required.

The position will be located at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland, and will be advertised at the GS-08 level.

Please apply for the position through the:

usajobs.gov website

and search under position # ER-2009-0132.

For more information contact:

Evan Grant
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, Maryland 20708-4038
ehgrant@usgs.gov (preferred)