The Herpetological Association of Africa 2014 conference will be held at the Gobabeb Research & Training Centre in the Namib Desert from 19-23 November 2014. This is certainly going to be a unique meeting. Further details will be provided on the HAA website early in 2014. Leer más.

Whenever I tell people about the devastating declines in amphibian populations around the world, there’s always someone that asks «So what?». In other words, when the raucous chorus of breeding frogs stops, and the ponds fall silent at night, will we notice any other changes? – Leer más.

Madagascar’s snakes have been the subject of almost 300 years of research. Most of this work has been taxonomic – with ~98 described species, and at least five undescribed species remaining, we are only now approaching the end of the taxonomic era for the island’s snakes (but are nowhere near for frogs and some lizard groups). Because we have been emphasising the naming of species, we have not yet devoted much time to figuring out the roles of the species in their ecosystems. Leer más.

I am a scientist. I lead a team of developing scientists (graduate students). One of the most important lessons to teach your graduate students is how to justify your research to the people who ask questions like this. Leer más.

As part of the inaugural «Herpetology Blog Carnival» the following post fits within the theme of «Snake Ecosystem Services».  I have included the links to all of the other blogs on this topic at the end. Leer más.