Bringing you the recent scientific advancements in the field of Herpetology.
Episodes
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
We find out what Burmese pythons get up to when no one is watching.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Whitney, N. M., White, C. F., Smith, B. J., Cherkiss, M. S., Mazzotti, F. J., & Hart, K. M. (2021). Accelerometry to study fine-scale activity of invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the wild. Animal Biotelemetry, 9(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-020-00227-7
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Studd, E.K., Derbyshire, R.E., Menzies, A.K., Simms, J.F., Humphries, M.M., Murray, D.L. and Boutin, S., (2021). The purr‐fect catch: using accelerometers and audio recorders to document kill rates and hunting behaviour of a small prey specialist. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 12(7), pp.1277-1287.
Carroll, G., Slip, D., Jonsen, I. and Harcourt, R., (2014). Supervised accelerometry analysis can identify prey capture by penguins at sea. Journal of Experimental Biology, 217(24), pp.4295-4302.
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
Are mountain kingsnakes multiple species? We try to decide.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available at: www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Myers, E. A., Rodríguez-Robles, J. A., Denardo, D. F., Staub, R. E., Stropoli, A., Ruane, S., & Burbrink, F. T. (2013). Multilocus phylogeographic assessment of the California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) suggests alternative patterns of diversification for the California Floristic Province. Molecular Ecology, 22(21), 5418–5429. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.12478
Species of the Bi-Week:
Székely, P., Székely, D., Ordó ñez-Delgado, L., Armijos- Ojeda, D., & Vörös, J. (2021). Our unknown neighbor: A new species of rain frog of the genus Pristimantis (Amphibia: Anura: Strabomantidae) from the city of Loja, southern Ecuador. PLoS ONE, 16(10 October), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258454
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
Chambers EA, Hillis DM. (2019). The Multispecies Coalescent Over-splits Species in the Case of Geographically Widespread Taxa. Systematic Biology:syz042. https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syz042.
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
What’s the best way to explore toad mate choice… create hyper-realistic robo-toads of differing colours.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Gardner KM, Mennill DJ, Savi LM, Shangi NE, Doucet SM. 2021. Sexual selection in a tropical toad: Do female toads choose brighter males in a species with rapid colour change? Ethology 127:475–483. DOI: 10.1111/eth.13156.
Other Links/Mentions:
Incilius luetkenii call fromOrganization for Tropical Studies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9OoXAMrIYQ
Incilius luetkenii interacting with models from Gardner et al., 2021: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Feth.13156&file=eth13156-sup-0001-Videos1.mp4
Hylodes phyllodes call from AmphibiaWeb: https://amphibiaweb.org/sounds/Hylodes_phyllodes92.mp3
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
We take a look at a frog that bucks the classic frog diet, and explore the confusing world of small Australian pythons. A new python here, a lost python there.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
da Silva HR, de Britto-Pereira MC. 2006. How much fruit do fruit-eating frogs eat? An investigation on the diet of Xenohyla truncata (Lissamphibia: Anura: Hylidae). Journal of Zoology 270:692–698. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00192.x.
Species of the Bi-Week:
Esquerré D, Donnellan SC, Pavón-Vázquez CJ, Fenker J, Keogh JS. 2021. Phylogeography, historical demography and systematics of the world’s smallest pythons (Pythonidae, Antaresia). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 161:107181. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107181.
Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:
da Silva, H. R., de Britto-Pereira, M. C., & Caramaschi, U. (1989). Frugivory and seed dispersal by Hyla truncata, a neotropical treefrog. Copeia, 1989: 781-783.
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Tuesday Apr 12, 2022
Snakes eat crabs, and they eat them in some pretty unusual ways.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Jayne, B. C., Voris, H. K., & Ng, P. K. L. (2018). How big is too big? Using crustacean-eating snakes (Homalopsidae) to test how anatomy and behaviour affect prey size and feeding performance. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 123(3), 636–650. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/bly007
Other Links:
Feeding videos of crustacean eating snakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtMR7I38s1U
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
This episode focuses on some confused sea snakes and their amorous intentions, with a wild Species of the Bi-Week.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Lynch, T. P., Alford, R. A., & Shine, R. (2021). Mistaken identity may explain why male sea snakes (Aipysurus laevis, Elapidae, Hydrophiinae) “attack” scuba divers. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94728-x
Species of the Bi-Week:
Lalronunga, S., Lalhmangaiha, K., Zosangliana, I., Lalhmingliani, E., Gower, D. J., Das, A., & Deepak, V. (2021). A new species of Stoliczkia Jerdon, 1870 (Serpentes: Xenodermidae) from Mizoram, India. Zootaxa, 4996(3), 569–580. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.3.9
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
Wednesday Mar 30, 2022
What can we learn about Endangered Giant herpetofauna from observing their movements? We take a look at some monster tortoises and gargantuan salamanders from opposite sides of the world. Later on hear the calls of our very red Species of the Bi-week.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
FULL REFERENCE LIST AVAILABLE AT: herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Pike KN, Blake S, Cabrera F, Gordon IJ, Schwarzkopf L. 2021. Body size, sex and high philopatry influence the use of agricultural land by Galapagos giant tortoises. Oryx:1–10. DOI: 10.1017/S0030605320001167.
Zhang L, Zhao H, Willard S, Wang Q, Jiang W, Zhang H-X, Kouba A. 2019. Spatial distribution and seasonal movement patterns of reintroduced Chinese giant salamanders. BMC Zoology 4:7. DOI: 10.1186/s40850-019-0046-9.
Species of the Bi-Week:
Baptista NL, Pinto PV, Keates C, Edwards S, Rödel M-O, Conradie W. 2021. A new species of red toad, Schismaderma Smith, 1849 (Anura: Bufonidae), from central Angola. Zootaxa 5081:301–332. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5081.3.1.
Other Links/Mentions:
Archer A.M. 2016. 910 -- Schismaderma carens. Red Toad (Bufonidae). https://vmus.adu.org.za/?vm=FrogMAP-6628
Baptista & Frommolt 2021. Advertisement calls of the toad Schismaderma branchi from Angola [Dataset]. Data Publisher: Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN) - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science. https://doi.org/10.7479/063t-ta10.
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Tuesday Mar 22, 2022
Slow worm combat and snake fungal disease are the topics of this episode - turns out slow worms are savages.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
FULL REFERENCE LIST AVAILABLE AT: herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Capula, M., Anibaldi, C., Filippi, E., & Luiselli, L. (1998). Sexual combats, matings, and reproductive phenology in an alpine population of the slow worm, Anguis fragilis. Herpetological Natural History, 6(1), 33–39.
Romer, A. S., Grinath, J. B., Moe, K. C., & Walker, D. M. (2022). Host microbiome responses to the Snake Fungal Disease pathogen (Ophidiomyces ophidiicola) are driven by changes in microbial richness. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 3078. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07042-5
Species of the Bi-Week:
Trivalairat, P., Sumontha, M., Kunya, K., & Chiangkul, K. (2022). Acanthosaura meridiona sp. nov. (Squamata: Agamidae), a new short-horned lizard from southern Thailand. Herpetological Journal, 32(1), 34–50. https://doi.org/10.33256/32.1.3450
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
One of our favourite groups of lizards is the topic of this episode. They are truly incredible beasts capable of learning, adapting, and apparently creating fantastic metropolis fir for all sorts of creatures to co-exist. Of course Species of the Bi-week is back, this time with a stunning South American lizard.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
FULL REFERENCE LIST AVAILABLE AT: herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Doody JS, Soennichsen KF, James H, McHenry C, Clulow S. 2021. Ecosystem engineering by deep‐nesting monitor lizards. Ecology 102. DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3271.
Pettit L, Ward-Fear G, Shine R. 2021. Invasion of cane toads (Rhinella marina) affects the problem-solving performance of vulnerable predators (monitor lizards, Varanus varius). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 75:39. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-02978-6.
Species of the Bi-Week:
García-Vázquez UO, Clause AG, Gutiérrez-Rodríguez J, Cazares-Hernández E, Torre-Loranca MÁ de la. 2022. A New Species of Abronia (Squamata: Anguidae) from the Sierra de Zongolica of Veracruz, Mexico. Ichthyology & Herpetology 110. DOI: 10.1643/h2021051.
Other Links/Mentions:
Video footage of lizards solving problems - https://figshare.com/articles/media/Invasion_of_cane_toads_Rhinella_marina_affects_the_problem-solving_performance_of_vulnerable_predators_monitor_lizards_Varanus_varius_/12830750/1?file=24355235
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
It's episode 100! We talk a bit about the effects of pesticides on frogs before having some fun testing our knowledge of herpetofauna.
Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights
FULL REFERENCE LIST AVAILABLE AT: herphighlights.podbean.com
Main Paper References:
Hua, J., Wuerthner, V. P., Jones, D. K., Mattes, B., Cothran, R. D., Relyea, R. A., & Hoverman, J. T. (2017). Evolved pesticide tolerance influences susceptibility to parasites in amphibians. Evolutionary Applications, 10(8), 802–812. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12500
Music:
Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson
Species Bi-week theme – Mike Mooney
Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com