Some of you might remember the fundraiser for my Suter’s skink research almost two years ago. Yes, it’s been almost two years. A lot has happened in the meantime, some setbacks but most of all, good, and positive things. First of all, let me start with the positive news: the study resulted in two papers! We just published the first paper, and the second one, a short natural history note on a very special discovery, is on its way. But, that will be the topic of another blog. Within this first blog, I will guide you through the reason why I went to New Zealand and what we did. Next time I will explain the results to you. Leer más.

We present a new molecular phylogeny of the stream treefrog genus Hyloscirtus, with an improved taxon sampling in the Hyloscirtus bogotensis group. Leer más.

Do snakes sleep? Do they dream? These may seem like obvious questions, especially since almost every species of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, and invertebrate studied has been found to exhibit some kind of resting phase. Leer más.

Life on an island isn’t always easy. To make the most of the little there is to eat on many Greek islands, the digestive system of Balkan green lizards has evolved considerably compared to family members on the mainland. Surprisingly, many of these insect-eating lizards even have special valves that help to digest plants. Leer más.

How did the ankylosaur get its tail club? According to research that traces the evolution of the ankylosaur’s distinctive tail, the handle arrived first on the scene, and the knot at the end of the tail followed. Leer más.