Herpetological Highlights

Latest Episodes:

147 Crocodiles can feel with their face Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Some animals use touch to forage; turns out crocodiles are among them. But when did this adaptation come about and do crocs share characteristics with other tactile-foraging species?

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Lessner EJ, Dollman KN, Clark JM, Xu X, Holliday CM. 2023. Ecomorphological patterns in trigeminal canal branching among sauropsids reveal sensory shift in suchians. Journal of Anatomy:joa.13826. DOI: 10.1111/joa.13826.

Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:

Smelski G, Cardwell M, Larsen J. 2023. Neurotoxic respiratory failure absent following Arizona rattlesnake bite. Toxicon. 224:107034. DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107034.

Other Links/Mentions:

Frog call: https://bit.ly/3wr6zl1

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

146 Iguanas with a Sweet Tooth Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

What are the impacts of tourists feeding iguanas grapes? We look at a paper detailing how well iguanas can handle so many sweet treats. Species of the Bi-week is a wonderful boa that isn’t a boa.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

French SS, Hudson SB, Webb AC, Knapp CR, Virgin EE, Smith GD, Lewis EL, Iverson JB, DeNardo DF. 2022. Glucose tolerance of iguanas is affected by high-sugar diets in the lab and supplemental feeding by ecotourists in the wild. Journal of Experimental Biology 225:jeb243932. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243932.

Species of the Bi-Week:

Ortega-Andrade HM, Bentley A, Koch C, Yánez-Muñoz MH, Entiauspe-Neto OM. 2022. A time relic: a new species of dwarf boa, Tropidophis Bibron, 1840 (Serpentes: Amerophidia), from the Upper Amazon Basin. European Journal of Taxonomy 854:1–107. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.854.2021.

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

145 Vipers On Ice Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Despite a warming planet, new research suggests that snakes in the UK may have more frosty mornings ahead. Then Sourish Kuttalam from Bangor University joins us to talk about a newly described viper from India.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Turner RK, Maclean IMD. 2022. Microclimate‐driven trends in spring‐emergence phenology in a temperate reptile (Vipera berus): Evidence for a potential “climate trap”? Ecology and Evolution 12. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8623.

Species of the Bi-Week:

Kuttalam S, Santra V, Owens JB, Selvan M, Mukherjee N, Graham S, Togridou A, Bharti OK, Shi J, Shanker K, Malhotra A. 2022. Phylogenetic and morphological analysis of Gloydius himalayanus (Serpentes, Viperidae, Crotalinae), with the description of a new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 852. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2022.852.2003.

Other Links/Mentions:

https://www.captiveandfieldherpetology.com/expeditions

Crinia georgiana, Quacking Frog call from frogid, By: Dale Roberts - https://www.frogid.net.au/frogs/crinia-georgiana

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

144 New Zealand’s Native Frogs Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

We uncover some small and unusual frogs native to the islands of New Zealand.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Altobelli J, Lamar S, Bishop P. 2021. Archaic, terrestrial Hamilton’s frogs (Leiopelma hamiltoni) display arboreal behaviours. New Zealand Journal of Ecology. DOI: 10.20417/nzjecol.45.24.

Lamb SD, Altobelli JT, Easton LJ, Godfrey SS, Bishop PJ. 2022. Captive Hamilton’s frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni) associates non-randomly under retreat sites: preliminary insights into their social networks. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 49:236–251. DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2021.1994426.

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

143 Can frogs stand the heat? Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

The climate crisis presents numerous questions about how animals will cope. We look at one frog-focused example where the researchers actually heated up a forest.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Hawley Matlaga TJ, Burrowes PA, Hernández-Pacheco R, Pena J, Sutherland C, Wood TE. 2021. Warming increases activity in the common tropical frog Eleutherodactylus coqui. Climate Change Ecology 2:100041. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecochg.2021.100041.

Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:

Folwell, M. J., Sanders, K. L., Brennan, P. L., & Crowe-Riddell, J. M. (2022). First evidence of hemiclitores in snakes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 289(1989), 20221702.

Other Links/Mentions:

Coqui frog call: https://amphibiaweb.org/species/2858#

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

142 Alligators can regrow their tails Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Tail regrowth is a weird and wonderful trait some herpetofauna possess. But there’s a new paper about the regrowing tails of alligators. Species of the Bi-week is more like Genus 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:

Xu C, Palade J, Fisher RE, Smith CI, Clark AR, Sampson S, Bourgeois R, Rawls A, Elsey RM, Wilson-Rawls J, Kusumi K. 2020. Anatomical and histological analyses reveal that tail repair is coupled with regrowth in wild-caught, juvenile American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Scientific Reports 10:20122. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77052-8.

Species of the Bi-Week:

Blair C, Bryson RW, García-Vázquez UO, Nieto-Montes De Oca A, Lazcano D, Mccormack JE, Klicka J. 2022. Phylogenomics of alligator lizards elucidate diversification patterns across the Mexican Transition Zone and support the recognition of a new genus. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 135:25–39. DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab139.

Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:

Seifert, A.W., Kiama, S.G., Seifert, M.G., Goheen, J.R., Palmer, T.M. and Maden, M., 2012. Skin shedding and tissue regeneration in African spiny mice (Acomys). Nature, 489(7417), pp.561-565.

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

141 Mountain Dragons Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

Mountain dragons are found in Australia and Tasmania. We get stuck in to the ecology of these busy little lizards.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Stuart-Smith JF, Stuart-Smith RD, Swain R, Wapstra E. 2008. Size dimorphism in Rankinia [Tympanocryptis] diemensis (Family Agamidae): sex-specific patterns and geographic variation: size dimorphism in R. diemensis. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 94:699–709. DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.01026.x.

Stuart-Smith J, Swain R, Welling A. 2005. Reproductive ecology of the Mountain Dragon, Rankinia (Tympanocryptis) diemensis (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) in Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania:23–28. DOI: 10.26749/rstpp.139.23.

Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:

Stuart‐Smith, J., Swain, R., Stuart‐Smith, R. D., & Wapstra, E. (2007). Is fecundity the ultimate cause of female‐biased size dimorphism in a dragon lizard?. Journal of Zoology, 273(3), 266-272.

Tombak, K. J., Gersick, A. S., Reisinger, L. V., Larison, B., & Rubenstein, D. I. (2022). Zebras of all stripes repel biting flies at close range. Scientific reports, 12(1), 1-8.

Other Links/Mentions:

Leptopelis viridis call from https://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?special=call&genus=Leptopelis&species=viridis

https://www.nhbs.com/mountain-dragons-book

Rödel, M. O. (2000). Herpetofauna of West Africa, Vol. I. Amphibians of the West African Savanna. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, Germany.

Radwin M. 2022.Rare, critically endangered gecko making dramatic recovery in Caribbean. Available at https://news.mongabay.com/2022/12/rare-critically-endangered-gecko-making-dramatic-recovery-in-caribbean/ (accessed December 8, 2022).

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

140 Snake Diets Through the Ages Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

After the dinosaurs went extinct snakes were feeling hungry.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Grundler MC, Rabosky DL. 2021. Rapid increase in snake dietary diversity and complexity following the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. PLOS Biology 19:e3001414. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001414.

Species of the Bi-Week:

Goutte S, Reyes-Velasco J, Kassie A, Boissinot S. 2022. Genetic and morphometric analyses of historical type specimens clarify the taxonomy of the Ethiopian Leptopelis gramineus species complex (Anura, Arthroleptidae). ZooKeys 1128:63–97. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1128.82176.

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

139 Can brownsnakes be bothered? Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Elapid behaviour is not as well studied as we’d like, so in this episode we look at a couple of papers to cover more ground. One describing the changing morphology to optimise caudal luring, and another that looks at just how much you can bother a brownsnake before the worst happens.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Crowe-Riddell JM, Dix S, Pieterman L, Nankivell JH, Ford M, Ludington AJ, Simões BF, Dunstan N, Partridge JC, Sanders KL, Allen L. 2021. From matte banded to glossy black: structures underlying colour change in the caudal lures of southern death adders (Acanthophis antarcticus, Reptilia: Elapidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 132:666–675. DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa218.

Whitaker PB, Ellis K, Shine R. 2000. The defensive strike of the Eastern Brownsnake, Pseudonaja textilis (Elapidae): Defensive strike of Eastern Brownsnake. Functional Ecology 14:25–31. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2435.2000.00385.x.

Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:

28 (not 38) new species of gecko in New Caledonia: https://www.dropbox.com/s/69y399u22ujxusb/Bavayia_PCAS_Nov_2022.pdf?dl=0

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

138 Evolving Anoles Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

The complexities of evolution pose constant questions. One of the most fruitful groups to look at when trying to understand evolution is Anolis lizards. They are well known for repeated convergent evolution, many species, and existing in a wealth of environments; so this episode we look at an example of what can drive that evolution. Also a cryptic viper for 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:

Prates I, D’Angiolella AB, Rodrigues MT, Melo‐Sampaio PR, de Queiroz K, Bell RC. 2021. Evolutionary drivers of sexual signal variation in Amazon Slender Anoles. Evolution 75:1361–1376. DOI: 10.1111/evo.14230.

Species of the Bi-Week:

Zhang M-H, Shi S-C, Li C, Yan P, Wang P, Ding L, Du J, Plenković-Moraj A, Jiang J-P, Shi J-S. 2022. Exploring cryptic biodiversity in a world heritage site: a new pitviper (Squamata, Viperidae, Crotalinae) from Jiuzhaigou, Aba, Sichuan, China. ZooKeys 1114:59–76. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1114.79709.

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

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