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.

Royal Thai Customs today seized a bag containing 62 highly threatened Radiated Tortoises Astrochelys radiata and arrested a Malagasy national at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Leer más.

Tail loss (aututomy) is one of the more amazing things done by lizards, but for for me it’s a frustrating reality of studying the physiology of sprinting because rough handling (by me when I was a beginning Ph.D. student and now in my lab by some undergrads) results in a lost tail and thus changed locomotor mechanics. Leer más.