Sartore's 'Amphibians' exhibit at Morrill Hall through Nov. 30

"Amphibians: Vibrant and Vanishing," an exhibit featuring photography by National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore, is on display at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall.

"Amphibians" includes more than 70 striking photographs of amphibians that stretch our notions of beauty and shed light on the tragic decline of some of Earth's most magnificent species. The exhibit, shown in the Cooper Gallery on the third floor, will remain on display through Nov. 30.

The exhibit showcases the incredible diversity of these species, which include frogs, toads, newts, salamanders and more. Large-scale images give visitors a close-up look at these endearing and expressive creatures -- from the strange to the comical, the camouflaged to the canary yellow.

Sadly, many amphibians are on the brink of extinction. The exhibit also highlights the widespread losses these species are experiencing due to environmental factors, such as pollution, habitat loss, climate change, and disease.

For the last 20 years, Nebraska native Sartore has captured the natural world in pictures for the National Geographic Society. He has photographed 30 stories, covering everything from the remote Amazon rain forest to mountain-racing firefighters in the United Kingdom. Sartore's work focuses on endangered species, natural history and land use issues. Besides the work he has done for National Geographic, he has completed assignments for Audubon Magazine, Time, Life, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and contributed to numerous book projects. Sartore and his work have been the subject of several national broadcasts including National Geographic's "Explorer," NBC Nightly News, NPR's Weekend Edition and an hour-long PBS documentary. He is also a regular contributor on the CBS Sunday Morning show with Charles Osgood. He lives in Lincoln with his wife Kathy and their three children.

The University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall is open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays, and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults (19 and over), $3 for children (5-18 years, 4 and under are free), and $10 for families (up to two adults and children). Morrill Hall will be closed Dec. 24-25 and Jan. 1. UNL staff, faculty and students are admitted free with valid NU ID. There is an additional charge for planetarium shows. Parking is free. For further information, telephone the museum at (402) 472-3779, visit its website, www.museum.unl.edu, or contact Dana Ludvik, public relations coordinator, at (402) 472-3779 or by e-mail.

WRITER: Dana Ludvik