For information regarding the contents of this page contact Alisa Gallant
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The ARMI Atlas
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ARMI now offers an online National Atlas for Amphibian Distributions.
The atlas includes distribution maps for all amphibian species known to occur in the
United States. The maps were created from a database* of current and historic records
of amphibian occurrences. These records were compiled from scientific literature, museum
records, state and regional herpetological atlases, and other confirmed and validated
observations.
The ARMI Atlas is organized by a scientific classification. Amphibians belong in the Kingdom Animalia,
the Phylum Chordata, and the Class Amphibia. The next taxonomic grouping is the Order. This is where the
ARMI Atlas begins. Class Amphibia consists of three Orders: 1. Anura, (frogs and toads), 2. Caudata
(salamanders and newts), and 3. Gymnophiona (caecilians or legless amphibians). Because there are no
caecilians found in the United States, none are included in the ARMI Atlas.
Amphibian Orders are subdivided into Families, such as the family Bufonidae (the "true toads")
and the family Ambystomatidae (the "mole salamanders"). Within Families are species. There is
a map provided for each species that occurs in the United States. Some maps also include a link
to a photo of the species (eventually all maps will include photo links).
Begin browsing the ARMI Atlas.
*The database was originally developed by Dr. Michael J. Lannoo, and his graduate students at Ball State University to accompany the book "Status and Conservation of U.S. Amphibians" (Lannoo, M.J. In press. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.). A copy of the database was obtained by the USGS ARMI program and serves as the foundation for this online atlas.
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