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Amphibians, Reptiles, & Natural History

Patterns of diversity in Neotropical Sankes

JCM

posted on

December 21, 2017

Neotropical region and ecoregion limits adopted here (sensu Olson et al., 2001), together with representative snakes species recorded for Central America Montane Forests: 1.1 Boa constrictor, 1.2 Oxybelis aeneus; Amazonia Most Forests: 1.3 Philodryas argentea, 1.4 Rhinobothryum lentiginosum, 1.5 Eunectes murinus, 1.6 Siphlophis compressus, 1.7 Amerotyphlops reticulatus, 1.8 Lachesis muta; Cerrado: 1.9 Imantodes cenchoa, 1.10…
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An almost a complete list of new reptiles described in 2017 – 96 new species

JCM

posted on

December 17, 2017

Extant Turtles described in 2017 (n=1) FAMILY Trachemys medemi Vargas-Ramírez, Valle, Ceballos & Fritz 2017 Emydidae Extant Lizards described in 2017 (n=70) Gymnophthalmus marconaterai García-Pérez & Schargel 2017 Acanthodactylus margaritae Tamar, Geniez, Brito & Crochet 2017 Agamidae Ctenotus pallasotus Rabosky & Doughty 2017 Agamidae Ctenotus rhabdotus Rabosky & Doughty 2017 Agamidae Dendragama australis Harvey, Shaney, Sidik, Kurniawan & Smith 2017…
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An almost complete list of the amphibians described in 2017 – 144 species

JCM

posted on

December 17, 2017

The following list is based upon data from AmphibiaWeb. This list was put together in mid-December 2017 so it probably does not represent all of the species that will be described in the calendar year. Species Family Country Distribution Reference Brachycephalus curupira Brachycephalidae Brazil Ribeiro LF, Blackburn DC, Stanley EL, Pie MR, Bornschein MR. (2017)…
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A new species of blind snake lizard

JCM

posted on

December 15, 2017

Dibamus floweri. Photo Credit Evan Quah. The lizards of the genus Dibamus are a poorly known clade of 22 species found at scattered locations across Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, and Indonesia. The genus is also found in the Nicobar Islands of India, the Philippines, and New Guinea. Their worm-like appearance and burrowing lifestyle…
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How do goannas find sea turtle nests?

JCM

posted on

December 14, 2017

Yellow-spotted goanna on Wreck Rock Beach, Queensland. Photo Credit: David Booth Goannas (AKA Monitor Lizards) have overtaken foxes as the number one predator of the endangered loggerhead turtle at its second largest Queensland nesting beach. A University of Queensland study has found that since feral red foxes were controlled in the 1980s, there has been an…
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Twenty-six new species of Malagasy microhylid frogs – many are microendemics

JCM

posted on

December 11, 2017

Stumpffia davidattenboroughi. Photo credit G. M. Rosa The genus Stumpffia Boettger, 1881 was first described based on the species Stumpffia psologlossa a small frog from Nosy Be Island, Benavony, and Manongarivo on the adjacent mainland in north-western Madagascar. This appears to be a lowland species ranging as high as 700 m asl. It lives in the…
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Viviparous sea snakes in the Indian Ocean

JCM

posted on

December 5, 2017

Hydrophis curtus The presence of the viviparous sea snakes in the Indian Ocean poses a unique question in this regard due to their evolutionary origins in Australasia (Australia and New Guinea). In a new paper Ukuwela et al. (2017) examine the origins and patterns of colonization of the Indian Ocean sea snake assemblage through time-calibrated…
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World Snake Day is July 16. The day is important to the conservation of snakes. Snakes live on every continent except Antarctica and can vary from the longest species, the reticulated python, to the smallest Barbados Threadsnake. Snakes try to avoid human contact. They consider humans predators. Venomous snakes (and many) use their venom to obtain food and only use it for defense when forced to. World Snake Day can help remove people's fears and illusions about snakes, and help them gain recognition as a marvelous adaptable apex species. World Snake Day can be used to educate and inform people about how to deal with snakes. Let's not mis this opportunity.

August 14th is World Lizard Day. It's the perfect time to show some love for these remarkable creatures that have been sharing our planet since the time of the dinosaurs. With over 6,000 known species, lizards come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns, and you can find them on every continent except Antarctica. But why should we celebrate lizards, you ask? Well, they're not just cool to observe in their natural habitats but also essential players in many ecosystems. Lizards help keep insect populations in check, which is vital to our ecosystems. So, let's give these amazing creatures the recognition they deserve on this special day! tems worldwide.

These extraordinary beings don’t merely excavate burrows that become abodes for various other species; they also provide a valuable service by assisting in maintaining the cleanliness of our beaches. Their diet includes the remains of deceased fish that wash ashore, making a substantial contribution to ecological equilibrium. This underscores the profound significance of safeguarding these gentle creatures.

World Turtle Day stands as an occasion specially designated to celebrate and protect both of these remarkable creatures. Its origins can be traced back to 2002 when American Tortoise Rescue introduced this meaningful event. It casts a spotlight on the myriad challenges that turtles and tortoises confront due to human intervention and environmental hazards. On this special day, educational institutions, rescue centers, and nature enthusiasts unite to deepen their understanding of these creatures and pledge unwavering commitments to their preservation.

Here are some impactful ways in which you can actively participate in the endeavor to safeguard these exceptional animals: Adopt a Turtle or Tortoise: Contemplate adopting a turtle or tortoise from a rescue shelter. These low-maintenance creatures make ideal companions, especially for families with young children.

Post List #4

California Kingsnake from se Arizona

Invasive Snakes refugia

Microhabitat use by the California Kingsnake in the Canary Islands

JCM Jan 14, 2026 3 min read

In this study, Maestresalas et al. (2026) characterize the shelter-use regime and the biotic and abiotic factors driving microhabitat selection by California kingsnake shelters on Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. The intent is to help inform management. They expected that…

The Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla), also known as the Pacific chorus frog, has a range spanning the Pacific Northwest, from Northern California, Oregon, and Washington to British Columbia in Canada and extreme southern Alaska. They live from sea level to more than 10,000 feet in many types of habitats, reproducing in aquatic settings. They occur in shades of greens or browns and can change colors over periods of hours and weeks.

Pacific Treefrogs, one, two, or three species?

JCM Oct 16, 2025 2 min read

Evolutionary divergence in sexual signals may lead to and maintain reproductive isolation between populations. Both selective forces—such as ecological and sexual selection—and random processes like genetic drift may influence the…

A female Burmese python with eggs.

Burmese Python Nest in Great Cypress Swamp

JCM Oct 16, 2025 3 min read

Lisa McBride, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) biologist, led a study to document a record-setting Burmese python nest found in Big Cypress National Preserve in 2022. McBride’s work details the…

Jurassic reptile fossil discovery blurs the line between snake and lizard

Jurassic reptile fossil discovery blurs the line between snake and lizard

JCM Oct 7, 2025 3 min read

by American Museum of Natural History edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan New research has uncovered a species of hook-toothed lizard that lived about 167 million years ago and has a…

Riama, a light bulb lizard from Ecuador

Discovering the lightbulb lizards of Ecuador

JCM Oct 7, 2025 2 min read

Alejandro Arteaga, a herpetologist in Ecuador sent out out the following email. If you have the resources for helping Alejandro I encourage you to do so. Today, I want to…