PODCAST

Herpetological Highlights

Bringing you the recent scientific advancements in the field of Herpetology.

science nature

All Episodes

45:30

219 Ball Pythons Care About Friendship

Herpetological Highlights ·

2025/01/28

Our understanding of the social lives of snakes is evolving at breakneck speed. This week we discuss a new study which has revealed that ball pythons have social behaviour. We also talk about sociality in rattlesnakes, before moving on to some news from the world of milk snake speciation - there may be fewer species than previously thought.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here:

30:43

218 Sleepy Skinks Love Tomatoes

Herpetological Highlights ·

2025/01/21

A wildly ambitious new study manages to test how the personalities of sleepy skinks influence their success at finding food in the wild. Then we hit upon a beautiful new frog species from China.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Spiegel O, Michelangeli M, Sinn DL, Payne E, Klein JV, Kirkpatrick J, Harbusch M, Sih A. 2024

30:33

217 Blindsnake Takeover

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/12/24

Blindsnakes have taken over the continent of Australia at rapid speed. We chat about their different body types and finish with some listener-submitted wild observations of unusual reptile behaviour.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Tiatragul S, Skeels A, Keogh JS. 2024. Morphological evolution and niche conservatism

36:31

216 Bearded Dragons Master Imitators

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/12/15

A clever new experiment has shown that bearded dragons can learn skills by copying other dragons. Then we have a brand new orange and black newt species. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Kis A, Huber L, Wilkinson A. 2015. Social learning by imitation in a reptile (Pogona vitticeps). Animal Cognition 18:325–331. DOI:

32:18

215 How Snakes Tackle Scorpions

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/12/02

Despite their boring name, ground snakes exhibit a variety of gnarly behaviours to help them take down invertebrate prey like spiders, scorpions and centipedes. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Gripshover ND, Meik JM, Nicholson DJ, Cox CL. 2024. Feeding behavior varies based upon prey defenses in the ground snake

25:14

214 Stinky Worm Lizards

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/11/22

Worm lizards are strange legless animals that live underground. Turns out they communicate by smell and are able to pass on surprisingly complex messages. There's also a brand new species of these subterranean lizards.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper Reference: Martín J, Navarro-Castilla Á, De La Concha A, Cuervo JJ, Barja I, López

38:13

213 Can you sex a blue-tongued skink?

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/11/13

In this Patreon-selected double bill we investigate the tricky task of sexing blue-tongued skinks and the strange underworld of olms.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: McKenzie A, Li T, Doneley B. 2022. A comparison of two techniques to identify the sex of the eastern blue‐tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides)

34:41

212 King Cobra Species Split

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/11/08

We chat about vipers hissing before hitting on some massive news with multiple new species of king cobra being described. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Van Zele N, Nicot T, Lengagne T, Ksas R, Lourdais O. 2024. Physiological costs of warning: Defensive hissing increases metabolic rate and evaporative water loss in a

29:01

211 Babies Crying Attracts Crocodiles

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/10/29

Crocodiles and apes have a long history together, and they might have been dining on our young...Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Thévenet J, Papet L, Coureaud G, Boyer N, Levréro F, Grimault N, Mathevon N. 2023. Crocodile perception of distress in hominid baby cries. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological

27:31

210 Box Turtle Personality

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/10/25

Turtles have personalities and these can be influenced by the environments they live in, with urban environments seemingly changing the way turtle populations behave. Plus we talk about a chunky new toad species. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Carlson BE, Carter SE, Hulbert AC, Hyslop NL, Free Kashon EA, Kimble SJA,

27:40

209 Eggs, Tails, and Leucistic Snakes

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/10/15

A bunch of new research up for discussion with frogs building nests, two-tailed geckos jogging about, and a leucistic snake that's venomous and poisonous.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Angiolani‐Larrea FN, Jindiachi L, Tinajero‐Romero JG, Valencia‐Aguilar A, Garrido‐Priego M, Culebras J, Ringler E. 2023. Egg burying

20:42

208 Smoked Out Lizards

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/10/10

Are lizards from fire-prone areas more savvy to smoke? New research suggests they are, plus we chat about a newly discovered green frog whose beautiful call (probably) resembles a flute. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper Reference: Álvarez-Ruiz L, Belliure J, Pausas JG. 2021. Fire-driven behavioral response to smoke in a

33:06

207 Monitor Lizards Munching Manky Marsupials

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/10/01

In Australia rotten meat is a valuable commodity that monitor lizards compete for against dingoes and red foxes. Plus new work from a team including ZSL has discovered a key ingredient to some lizard and crocodilian teeth that explains how they are so tough.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Cairncross RJ, Spencer EE,

31:19

206 Lizards on Red Alert

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/09/25

We talk about tourists intimidating lizards, pythons eating each other, and some fun skink action including a brand new dragon-like skink. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Golawska S, Charalambidou I, Surmacki A, Golawski A. 2024. Tourism influences escape behavior of lizards in relationship with human clothing color

44:35

205 SquaMates Podcast Crossover

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/09/11

At the World Congress of Herpetology in Borneo we had the pleasure of meeting Mark and Hiral from the SquaMates Podcast, and took the opportunity to record an episode together. You can watch the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/ptXlOtEzivs Check out Mark D. Scherz, Ethan Kocak, Gabriel Ugueto, and Hiral Naik in the SquaMates Podcast: http://squamatespod.com/ Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full

52:51

204 World Congress of Herpetology

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/09/07

Back from the World Congress in Borneo, we catch up about the experience, and finish with the recording of the mini podcast we did in front of a live audience. Special thanks to the Singapore Herpetological Society for inviting us to speak in their symposium about outreach and inclusivity in herpetology.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here:

23:50

203 Impulsive Skinks

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/08/20

This episode is all behaviour, looking at whether Australian lizards can exercise inhibitory control.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Szabo B, Hoefer S, Whiting MJ. 2020. Are lizards capable of inhibitory control? Performance on a semi-transparent version of the cylinder task in five species of Australian skinks

28:10

202 Homeward Hopping Frogs

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/08/16

This episode we are looking at egg-feeding poison frogs and their ability to find their way back to their home territory. Species of the Bi-week is a fresh mud snake. Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Gómez-Consuegra J, Amézquita A. 2024. Ecological and behavioral correlates of homing performance in the egg-feeding poison

21:24

201 Toxic Toe-tapping Frogs

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/08/06

Popular pets, dart frogs are known to tap their toes, but the precise reasoning behind it has eluded scientists until now.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Parrish TQ, Fischer EK. 2024. Tap dancing frogs: Posterior toe tapping and feeding in Dendrobates tinctorius. Ethology 130:e13465. DOI: 10.1111/eth.13465. Species of

30:15

200 Episode 200

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/07/30

To celebrate 200 episodes we test each other on how well we remember them, before diving in to a paper about urban water snakes.Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com Main Paper References: Mészáros B, Bürgés J, Tamás M, Gál B, Schmera D, Hamer AJ. 2024. Urban oasis? Abundant dice snake (Natrix tessellata) populations along artificial lakeside

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