Get pumped up for Amphibian Week 2024!
Get pumped up for Amphibian Week 2024!
A green frog showing off its swimming skills
A spotted salamander attempting a push-up
A rough-skinned newt easily glides through the water
A Cuban treefrog climbs expertly across a plant
Get your game face on, Amphibian Week 2024, Extreme Athletes: Amphibian Edition is almost here! From May 5 – 11, USGS ARMI scientists and amphibian enthusiasts around the world will be celebrating the extreme athletic abilities of frogs, newts, toads, salamanders, and caecilians.
Why celebrate amphibians?
Amphibians are vital components of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems around the world. As predators and prey, they play an important role in maintaining insect populations and are a critical food source for larger animals, including birds and fish. Because they breathe through their skin, amphibians are also incredibly sensitive to environmental changes, and as such, can serve as early indicators of environmental contamination and other issues with ecosystem health.
Due to their sensitivity to disease, environmental change, and habitat loss, some amphibian populations have experienced dramatic declines. However, many people, including researchers, resource managers, naturalists, and more, are working diligently to conserve amphibians worldwide and get the word out about the amazing characteristics and diversity of amphibians everywhere! Amphibian Week was started in 2020 as an opportunity for all to celebrate and learn more about these incredible creatures.
FORT scientists are working on numerous projects related to amphibian research and conservation. Read more about these projects and amphibian research at USGS:
A Framework for Guiding Management Decisions for Amphibians in an Uncertain Future
Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative - Rocky Mountain Region
Learn more about USGS Amphibian Research
Amphibian Week in Washington D.C.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Extreme Athletes: Amphibian Edition.” Hopping, swimming, climbing, crawling – amphibians can do it all!
To celebrate, USGS researchers with the Amphibian Monitoring and Research Initiative (ARMI), including FORT Research Zoologist Erin Muths, will be participating in multiple events around Washington D.C. If you're in the area, find them at the following events:
- Saturday, May 4 - The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (10am–12:30pm ET)
- Sunday, May 5 - The Reptile Discovery Center at the National Zoological Park (10am–2pm ET)
- Monday, May 7 - Amphibian Week Event at the National Mall (11am–2pm ET)
Meet Phil the Frog, see a variety of live animals, including salamanders, frogs, and toads, and learn a ton about amphibians!
Amphibian Week 2024
ARMI participates in Amphibian Week 2023
Not in the D.C. area? You can still celebrate!
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) is hosting multiple virtual events, which you can learn more about through the Amphibian Week 2024 Events Page.
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