UGA Coastal Ecology Lab

09/22/2026

Hello everyone! Today's post will be a triple feature, covering the One-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter), Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means), and Three-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma tridactylum) from the Amphiumidae family.

All three can be found in the Southeastern United States and are very similar in appearance, often mistaken for eels. They lack external gills, and their limbs are very small and easy to overlook. Amphiumas are black to brownish-grey, with size varying between the three species. Two-toed amphiumas are the largest of the trio, growing up to 4 feet long. That gives them the title of the longest salamander species in the United States. All three can be distinguished by the number of toes on their limbs, corresponding to their name. They are highly opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of prey, including other amphiumas. They are also known for a very strong and painful (non-venomous) bite, so handle with care if the need arises!

Amphiumas live in a variety of habitats as long as it is still water with little to no movement. Some will even inhabit man-made bodies of water like ponds and ditches. Females will lay their eggs where the land and water connect, under logs and other natural debris. As of writing this post, none of the three species are protected federally, and they are considered a species of least concern.



Photo 1 by “mfranzen” CC-BY-NC, iNaturalist [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/319962676]
Photo 2 by “anthony_damiani” CC-BY-NC, iNaturalist [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/363846927]

09/21/2026

Happy Monday! We have baby alligators!

As part of Mark Hoog's dissertation, he is hatching our 36 alligators that will be used in a behavioral experiment looking at how capture can be used as aversive conditioning and potentially as an alternative management technique. The overall goal of the experiment is to see if we can "reeducate" alligators that have become habituated to people in populated areas to once again fear and flee from people. The idea is that if humans can't get as close to the alligators, then there will be less potential for conflict between humans and alligators, which can help both parties coexist safely. Let us know if you would like to learn more about this project in the comments, and we can go into more detail in future posts.

09/20/2026

🚨 🚨You might expect a pond to be full of small insects quietly skimming across the surface, but some of its residents are much more formidable. Hidden among the aquatic greenery is a predator capable of grabbing fish, frogs, and other animals with its powerful front legs. Meet the American giant water bug (Lethocerus americanus)!

Despite their intimidating appearance, giant water bugs are not beetles or roaches; they are true bugs in the order Hemiptera. They can reach around 2 inches in length, giving them an impressive size compared to other aquatic insects. Their flattened, oval-shaped bodies help them move through the water, while their powerful front legs are adapted for grabbing prey.

These insects are ambush predators. They typically hide among submerged vegetation or wait near the edges of ponds and other slow-moving waters before grabbing passing prey with their front legs. Their diet can include aquatic insects, snails, small fish, and even amphibians. Some giant water bugs are capable of attacking prey much larger than themselves!

One of the most interesting parts of their life cycle involves the male giant water bug. Giant water bugs in the genus Belostoma have a remarkable behavior where the female glues the eggs to the male's back, which he carries until they hatch. The American giant water bug females, however, lay their eggs on aquatic vegetation or other surfaces near the water, rather than attaching them to the male.

Giant water bugs are also sometimes called "toe biters", and for good reason. If grabbed or stepped on, they can deliver a painful bite with their mouthparts. They aren't looking to attack people, but their bite is a defensive response. Their common name "electric light bug" comes from their tendency to fly towards lights at night.

As predators, giant water bugs play an important role in freshwater ecosystems. By feeding on other aquatic animals, they help regulate populations within ponds, wetlands, and other freshwater habitats. Finding one is also a good reminder that even seemingly quiet ponds can contain some surprisingly formidable predators.

📷:American Giant Water Bug by iNaturalist user "brandenjudson”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/135718347)

09/18/2026

Welcome back to another ! Did you know that many lizards have a third eye on top of their head?

This third eye, called the parietal eye, is a superficial sensory organ on the top of the head that is linked to the pineal gland (regulates circadian rhythms, hormone production, and thermoregulation). While the parietal eye cannot form images, it can sense changes in light intensity and wavelength, aiding in basking and thermoregulation. Next time you find a lizard, take a look at the top of its head and see if you can see their third eye.

Pictured below is a bearded dragon with her third eye circled in red.

09/17/2026

We are one month away from the first year for the Biennial Okefenokee Symposium! Please join us in Brunswick at the College of Coastal Georgia on October 16! Registration information is on the website.

09/16/2026

Join Coastal Ecology Specialist Kimberly Andrews to learn how to confidently distinguish Georgia’s venomous snakes from non-venomous species. Spend time interacting with live snakes from our teaching collection, debunking common myths, and discovering practical tips for your home! 🐍

Register for our upcoming Brunswick and Skidaway programs at https://bit.ly/4d6q7AF

09/15/2026

Hi everyone! Today's post will be about costal grooves in salamanders instead of a specific species.

This phenotypic trait is present in almost all salamanders and serves several unique functions. Salamanders breathe through a combination of lungs, external gills, and skin, which needs to be adequately moist for subcutaneous respiration to take place. But what are costal grooves? Costal grooves are folds of skin vertically positioned along the sides of salamanders in varying numbers. The grooves' shape allows for easier and more efficient moisture retention, channeling water onto the skin. This is vital to the salamander's survivability, helping to prevent it from desiccating (drying out). Outside of the immediate benefits to the salamander in question, costal grooves can also be valuable to help identify species since the number of grooves will vary between certain species. A photo of a Northern Gray-cheeked salamander has been attached that showcases what costal grooves look like on an individual.

09/14/2026

One week left to comment on Georgia's Protected Species List! Please help out by submitting your words of support by September 20. See how to contribute below.

Georgia’s protected species list is being updated, and now is your opportunity to weigh in!

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comments on proposed updates to the state’s Protected Species List through September 20. The proposed changes reflect updated information about the conservation status of Georgia’s wildlife, and public input is an important part of the review process. You can learn more about the proposed updates and how to submit comments on the Georgia DNR website: https://georgiawildlife.com/protectedspecieslist

Comments can be submitted by email to [email protected], by mail, or in person. A public hearing will also be held September 8 at 7 p.m. at Georgia DNR headquarters. If you care about the conservation of Georgia’s native wildlife, take a few minutes to learn about the proposed changes and make your voice heard!

09/13/2026

🚨 🚨What looks like a fuzzy, brightly colored ant racing across the ground is actually a wasp, and one with a seriously painful defense! Meet the Eastern Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis), also known as the "cow killer."

Despite its name and ant-like appearance, the Eastern Velvet Ant is not an ant at all. It is a solitary wasp in the family Mutillidae. The females are wingless and covered in dense red and black hairs, making them look remarkably like large, fuzzy ants. Males, however, have wings and look much more like typical wasps. Only the females of this species possess a stinger.

The Eastern Velvet Ant has a fascinating life cycle. Females search for the underground nests of other solitary bees and wasps and lay their eggs near the developing host. When the velvet ant larva hatches, it feeds on the host larva or pupa before eventually developing into an adult. This makes velvet ants parasitoids, meaning their young develop by feeding on and ultimately killing the host.

However, what really makes this insect famous is its sting. The Eastern Velvet Ant's reputation as the "cow killer" comes from the legendary pain of its sting, not because it actually kills cows. The name is an exaggeration, but the pain from the sting is very real. The females have a long, flexible stinger and can sting repeatedly if handled. On the Schmidt Pain Index, Velvet ants are typically rated around a 2-3, often described as "explosive and long-lasting" or "Is this what shrapnel feels like?"

Pain isn't their only defensive measure. Their tough, rounded exoskeleton makes them difficult for predators to crush; their bright coloration acts as a warning, and they even produce a squeaking sound when disturbed. They can also run surprisingly quickly, giving predators several reasons to leave them alone.

Despite their fearsome reputation, Eastern Velvet Ants aren't aggressive toward people. They are generally interested in finding hosts, food, or mates, not stinging you. The best way to avoid their famous sting is simple: don't pick them up and don't step on them. Take a closer look, sure, but make sure to keep your hands to yourself!

📷:Common Eastern Velvet Ant by iNaturalist user "marykeim”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4033514)

📷:Common Eastern Velvet Ant by iNaturalist user "donnawalkuski”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/89236129)

📷:Common Eastern Velvet Ant by iNaturalist user "kzoebel”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/231529525)

09/12/2026

Hello everyone and welcome back to another ! 🐍 If you have ever seen a snake, you have probably seen their long, forked tongue that flicks in and out. Today we are going to talk more about their unique tongue and how they use it.

The most notable feature of a snake's tongue is the split that is near the end. This split has a key function, as it is used to gather scent molecules. These scent molecules, once collected, are then transferred to the inside of the snake's mouth and processed by the Vomeronasal organ, allowing them to smell their surroundings. The Vomeronasal organ, aka the Jacobson's organ, is an olfactory sensory organ that lies in the nasal cavity above the roof of the mouth. Once the snake draws its tongue in, the Vomeronasal organ takes the molecules and processes them, sending signals to the snake's brain about what is around it. This sense is often used to identify if prey is near and where it may be directionally.

Pictured below is a Rainbow Snake (Farancia erytrogramma ssp. erytrogramma) using its tongue to sense what is around it.



📷 Photo by: mattyfelp (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/373392014)