Bringing you the recent scientific advancements in the field of Herpetology.
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Tuesday Aug 09, 2022
Lizards can live in some tough environments, but does any lizard top the chubby Phymaturus living on the side of an active volcano? This episode we explore how they are coping with repeated ashfall events, as well as highlighting a newly described Phymaturus species.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Boretto JM, Cabezas-Cartes F, Kubisch EL, Sinervo B, Ibargüengoytía NR. 2014. Changes In Female Reproduction And Body Condition In An Endemic Lizard, Phymaturus spectabilis, Following The Puyehue Volcanic Ashfall Event. Herpetological Conservation and Biology:11.
Species of the Bi-Week:
Lobo F, Barrasso DA, Hibbard T, Quipildor M, Slodki D, Valdecantos S, Basso NG. 2021. Morphological and Genetic Divergence within the Phymaturus payuniae Clade (Iguania: Liolaemidae), with the Description of Two New Species. South American Journal of Herpetology 20:41.
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Becker, L. A., Boretto, J. M., Cabezas-Cartes, F., Márquez, S., Kubisch, E., Scolaro, J. A., ... & Ibargüengoytía, N. R. (2019). An integrative approach to elucidate the taxonomic status of five species of Phymaturus Gravenhorst, 1837 (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 185(1), 268-282.
Cabezas-Cartes F, Kubisch EL, Ibargüengoytía NR. 2014. Consequences of volcanic ash deposition on the locomotor performance of the Phymaturus spectabilis lizard from Patagonia, Argentina: Effect Of Volcanic Ash In Locomotion Of Lizards. Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology 321:164–172. DOI: 10.1002/jez.1846.
Other Links/Mentions:
Frog call of Boana faber from Rodrigo Dela Rosa – https://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?special=call&genus=Boana&species=faber
Editing and Music:
Podcast edited by Emmy – https://www.fiverr.com/emmyk10
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Toad headed agamas have a bonkers display - bright pink flaps which pop out of the sides of their head. It has long been assumed this serves as a warning to would-be predators, but does scientific evidence support this?
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper Reference:
Whiting, M. J., Noble, D. W. A., & Qi, Y. (2022). A potential deimatic display revealed in a lizard. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 136(3), 455–465. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blac044
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Petrovan, S. O., Al-Fulaij, N., Christie, A., & Andrews, H. (2022). Why link diverse citizen science surveys? Widespread arboreal habits of a terrestrial amphibian revealed by mammalian tree surveys in Britain. PloS one, 17(7), e0265156.
Editing and Music:
Podcast edited by Emmy – https://www.fiverr.com/emmyk10
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Some vipers have crazy horns - we chat about it, and discuss a brand new species of lizard from South America.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Busschau, T., & Boissinot, S. (2022). Habitat determines convergent evolution of cephalic horns in vipers. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 135(4), 652–664. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blac008
Species of the Bi-Week:
Amézquita, A., Daza, J. M., Contreras, L. A. B., Orejuela, C., Barrientos, L. S., & Mazariegos H., L. A. (2022). One more and one less: a new species of large bromelicolous lizard (Gymnophthalmidae: Anadia) from the Andean cloud forests of northwestern Colombia and the phylogenetic status of Anadia antioquensis. Zootaxa, 5150(2), 217–238. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5150.2.3
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Petrovan, S. O., Al-Fulaij, N., Christie, A., & Andrews, H. (2022). Why link diverse citizen science surveys? Widespread arboreal habits of a terrestrial amphibian revealed by mammalian tree surveys in Britain. PloS one, 17(7), e0265156.
Editing and Music:
Podcast edited by Emmy – https://www.fiverr.com/emmyk10
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Tuesday Jul 19, 2022
Despite existing on the planet for millions of years with minor morphological changes, crocodiles are having a difficult time in a new human dominated world. However, there are success stories. This episode we take a look at the rebound of American Crocodiles, and also explore how long herpetofauna live for.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Mazzotti FJ, Balaguera-Reina SA, Brandt LA, Briggs-González V, Cherkiss M, Farris S, Godahewa A. 2022. Natural and Anthropogenic Factors Influencing Nesting Ecology of the American Crocodile in Florida, United States. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10:904576. DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.904576.
Reinke BA, Cayuela H, Janzen FJ, Lemaître J-F, Gaillard J-M, Lawing AM, Iverson JB, Christiansen DG, Martínez-Solano I, Sánchez-Montes G, Gutiérrez-Rodríguez J, Rose FL, Nelson N, Keall S, Crivelli AJ, Nazirides T, Grimm-Seyfarth A, Henle K, Mori E, Guiller G, Homan R, Olivier A, Muths E, Hossack BR, Bonnet X, Pilliod DS, Lettink M, Whitaker T, Schmidt BR, Gardner MG, Cheylan M, Poitevin F, Golubović A, Tomović L, Arsovski D, Griffiths RA, Arntzen JW, Baron J-P, Le Galliard J-F, Tully T, Luiselli L, Capula M, Rugiero L, McCaffery R, Eby LA, Briggs-Gonzalez V, Mazzotti F, Pearson D, Lambert BA, Green DM, Jreidini N, Angelini C, Pyke G, Thirion J-M, Joly P, Léna J-P, Tucker AD, Limpus C, Priol P, Besnard A, Bernard P, Stanford K, King R, Garwood J, Bosch J, Souza FL, Bertoluci J, Famelli S, Grossenbacher K, Lenzi O, Matthews K, Boitaud S, Olson DH, Jessop TS, Gillespie GR, Clobert J, Richard M, Valenzuela-Sánchez A, Fellers GM, Kleeman PM, Halstead BJ, Grant EHC, Byrne PG, Frétey T, Le Garff B, Levionnois P, Maerz JC, Pichenot J, Olgun K, Üzüm N, Avcı A, Miaud C, Elmberg J, Brown GP, Shine R, Bendik NF, O’Donnell L, Davis CL, Lannoo MJ, Stiles RM, Cox RM, Reedy AM, Warner DA, Bonnaire E, Grayson K, Ramos-Targarona R, Baskale E, Muñoz D, Measey J, de Villiers FA, Selman W, Ronget V, Bronikowski AM, Miller DAW. 2022. Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity. Science 376:1459–1466. DOI: 10.1126/science.abm0151.
Species of the Bi-Week:
Koch, Claudia, and Pablo J Venegas. 2016. “A Large and Unusually Colored New Snake Species of the Genus Tantilla (Squamata; Colubridae) from the Peruvian Andes.” PeerJ 4: e2767. OPEN ACCESS
Other Links/Mentions:
BBC article on the giant Mekong stingray - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-61862169
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Tuesday Jul 12, 2022
Animals come in many sizes, great and small. But all are subject to the laws of physics. In this episode we look at how the tiniest of frogs are too small to elegantly jump. Species of the Bi-week returns for an even fresher, more chocolatey frog.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Essner RL, Pereira REE, Blackburn DC, Singh AL, Stanley EL, Moura MO, Confetti AE, Pie MR. 2022. Semicircular canal size constrains vestibular function in miniaturized frogs. Science Advances 8:eabn1104. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1104.
Species of the Bi-Week:
Chávez G, Thompson ME, Sánchez DA, Chávez-Arribasplata JC, Catenazzi A. 2022. A needle in a haystack: Integrative taxonomy reveals the existence of a new small species of fossorial frog (Anura, Microhylidae, Synapturanus) from the vast lower Putumayo basin, Peru. Evolutionary Systematics 6:9–20. DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.6.80281.
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Montano Y, Marshall BM, Ward M, Silva I, Artchawakom T, Waengsothorn S, Strine C. 2022. A stable home: Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimated home ranges of the critically endangered Elongated Tortoise. The Herpetological Journal 32:120–129. DOI: 10.33256/32.3.120129.
Other Links/Mentions:
Video of frogs’ poor jumping ability - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ngnnhcT-s
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Jackson's chameleons are famous for their bright colours and fancy horns. But can a lack of predators make them even jazzier?
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper Reference:
Whiting MJ, Holland BS, Keogh JS, Noble DWA, Rankin KJ, Stuart-Fox D. 2022. Invasive chameleons released from predation display more conspicuous colors. Science Advances 8:eabn2415. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn2415.
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Gordon, S. P., Reznick, D., Arendt, J. D., Roughton, A., Ontiveros Hernandez, M. N., Bentzen, P., & López-Sepulcre, A. (2015). Selection analysis on the rapid evolution of a secondary sexual trait. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282(1813), 20151244.
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
Can the smell of predators put lizards off their lunch?
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper Reference:
Webster C, Massaro M, Michael DR, Bambrick D, Riley JL, Nimmo DG. 2018. Native reptiles alter their foraging in the presence of the olfactory cues of invasive mammalian predators. Royal Society Open Science 5:180136. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.180136.
Species of the Bi-Week:
Oliver PM, Rittmeyer EN, Torkkola J, Donnellan SC, Dahl C, Richards SJ. 2020. Multiple trans-Torres Strait colonisations by tree frogs in the Litoria caerulea group, with the description of a new species from New Guinea. Australian Journal of Zoology 68:15.
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Apfelbach R, Parsons MH, Soini HA, Novotny MV. (2015) Are single odorous components of a predator sufficient to elicit defensive behaviors in prey species? Frontiers in Neuroscience. 9, 263. (doi:10. 3389/fnins.2015.00263)
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Friday Jun 24, 2022
Friday Jun 24, 2022
Venoms are complex, and researchers are constantly discovering new intriguing uses. But this episode we look at a fascinating new venom use for the snakes themselves.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Saviola AJ, Chiszar D, Busch C, Mackessy SP. 2013. Molecular basis for prey relocation in viperid snakes. BMC Biology 11:20. DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-11-20.
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Teshera MS, Clark RW, Wagler AE, Greenbaum E. 2021. Foraging and scavenging behaviour of the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis): no evidence that envenomation cues facilitate kleptoparasitism of struck prey. Amphibia-Reptilia:1–11. DOI: 10.1163/15685381-bja10073.
Other Links/Mentions:
Indian purple frog call from Thomas A, Suyesh R, Biju SD, Bee MA. 2014. Vocal behavior of the elusive purple frog of India (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis), a fossorial species endemic to the Western Ghats. PloS one, 9(2), p.e84809: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vocal-Behavior-of-the-Elusive-Purple-Frog-of-India-(Nasikabatrachus-sahyadrensis)-a-Fossorial-pone.0084809.s005.ogv
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
Tuesday Jun 21, 2022
A phylogenetic paper focused episode looking at the longest snake of them all: Reticulated pythons. Are all reticulated pythons part of one big happy whole, or do the hundreds of islands they inhabit mean pythons represent just as many sub-species? Species of the Bi-week is a wonderfully lemon-soaked lizard.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Murray-Dickson G, Ghazali M, Ogden R, Brown R, Auliya M. 2017. Phylogeography of the reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus ssp.): Conservation implications for the worlds’ most traded snake species. PLOS ONE 12:e0182049. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182049.
Species of the Bi-Week:
Pavón-Vázquez CJ, Esquerré D, Fitch AJ, Maryan B, Doughty P, Donnellan SC, Keogh JS. 2022. Between a rock and a dry place: phylogenomics, biogeography, and systematics of ridge-tailed monitors (Squamata: Varanidae: Varanus acanthurus complex). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 173:107516. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107516.
Other Links/Mentions:
Tom’s appearance on BBC Springwatch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCP2w5CVbkY
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Bearded dragons love to eat bugs, but pesticide use means they aren't always as good as they look.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Contador-Kelsall I, Maute K, Story P, Hose GC, French K. 2022. Sublethal pesticide exposure influences behaviour, but not condition in a widespread Australian lizard. Conservation Physiology 10:coac024. DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac024.
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Entiauspe‐Neto, O. M., Reichle, S., & Dos Rios, A. (2022). A case of playful interaction between Bolivian River Dolphins with a Beni Anaconda. Ecology, e3724.
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney