PODCAST

Herpetological Highlights

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

science nature

All Episodes

29:38

195 What makes a snake bite?

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/06/25

Snake bite is a global health issue. This episode we look at a paper that tries to determine the factors that make snakes more or less likely to bite.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: Alves-Nunes JM, Fellone A, Almeida-Santos SM, De Medeiros CR, Sazima I, Vuolo Marques OA. 2024. Study of defensive behavior of a venomous

30:22

194 Mighty Morphing Salamanders

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/06/22

Some species come in different colour morphs, but how do species maintain these different morphs? Do they end up behaving differently? This episode we look at the territorial behaviour of salamanders in North America, and check in on a whole bushel of tiny chameleons for the Species of the Bi-week. 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

31:43

193 Snakes Can Smell Themselves

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/06/11

The mirror test is often used to try and determine if animals have self recognition. If they recognise it is them in the mirror, they will react to a change in their appearance. But for snakes, sight is not the primary sense, so scientists have had to get a bit more creative.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: Freiburger

32:57

192 Night of the Natrix

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/06/08

Common grass snakes are a widespread European species that are often spotted by people and recorded using apps. To the surprise of scientists, they have an interesting nightlife.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: Spaseni P, Sahlean TC, Gherghel I, Zamfirescu Ștefan R, Petreanu IC, Melenciuc R, Alistar CF, Gavril VD,

26:31

191 History Inside Frog DNA

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/05/28

This episode we chat about the thousands of frog ancestors whose stories can still be heard in the DNA of modern frogs. How did these frogs from the past deal with dramatic changes, and is modern urbanisation having a sizable effect today?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: Moran PA, Bosse M, Mariën J, Halfwerk W. 2024

37:51

190 Snake Food Fights

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/05/21

This episode is all about questioning the assumption that snake male-male combat is driven by competition for mates. We look at a paper that presents evidence showing that food might be behind the combat. Species of the Bi-week returns for a variable and vibrant viper.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: Farrell TM, Gull

32:27

189 What can Brown Snakes do for you?

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/05/10

Killing snakes is bad karma, but it might also be bad for business. 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: Shine R, Dunstan N, Abraham J, Mirtschin P. 2023. Why Australian farmers should not kill venomous snakes. Animal Conservation:acv.12925. DOI: 10.1111/acv.12925. Other Links/Mentions: Pseudothecadactylus australis Gecko

37:22

188 Big Wetlands for Big Snakes

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/05/03

Giant garter snakes are big beasts that like wetland areas - we chat about how they get on when faced with the challenge of moving to a new wetland. Then, a brand new species of banded venomous snake has been discovered in Thailand.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: Nguyen AM, Halstead BJ, Todd BD. 2024. Effect of

32:23

187 Anoles on the Night-shift

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/04/02

Anoles are adaptable creatures, but can they make the most of artificial light?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: Taylor LA, Thawley CJ, Pertuit OR, Dennis AJ, Carson IR, Tang C, Johnson MA. 2022. Artificial light at night alters diurnal and nocturnal behavior and physiology in green anole lizards. Physiology &

36:10

186 Sleeping Dragons

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/03/25

Hibernation is a pretty extreme biological process that shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. Bearded dragons are one of many beasts that have it perfected, and in this episode we look at how. Species of the Bi-week is back with a new strange skinned 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: Capraro A, O’Meally D, Waters SA,

23:08

185 The tortoises are back in town

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/03/12

Tortoises return to an island in the Galapagos and prove themselves to be solid ecosystem engineers.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: Tapia Aguilera W, Gibbs JP. 2023. Rewilding giant tortoises engineers plant communities at local to landscape scales. Conservation Letters 16:e12968. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12968. Other

22:58

184 Skin-eating Caecilians

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/03/08

Caecilians, the strange underground amphibians, are known to let their babies eat their skin. But the full benefits of this practice are only now becoming clear.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: Kouete MT, Bletz MC, LaBumbard BC, Woodhams DC, Blackburn DC. 2023. Parental care contributes to vertical transmission of

27:28

183 Lizards Disrupting Dinner

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/02/25

A wildly ambitious study which fundamentally alters the ecology of islands? Count us in.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: Lapiedra O, Morales N, Yang LH, Fernández‐Bellon D, Michaelides SN, Giery ST, Piovia‐Scott J, Schoener TW, Kolbe JJ, Losos JB. 2023. Predator‐driven behavioural shifts in a common lizard shape

24:33

182 Sea Snake Squad

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/02/19

More evidence of social behaviour in snakes, this time from snakes that live underwater. Then we chat about a new species of alligator-looking lizard. 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: Somaweera R, Udyawer V, Amarasinghe AAT, De Fresnes J, Catherall J, Molchanova G. 2023. Apparent coordinated and communal hunting

27:16

181 Piebald Pythons

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/01/25

Royal pythons, ball pythons, regardless of their name the colour morphs can be stunning. But have folk found which gene is responsible? And can that gene create the same patterns in other reptiles? 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: Garcia-Elfring A, Sabin CE, Iouchmanov AL, Roffey HL, Samudra SP, Alcala AJ, Osman RS,

24:23

180 Urban Chameleon Warfare

Herpetological Highlights ·

2024/01/24

Urban environments can be dramatically different from natural ones. New challenges face any animal finding themselves in the big city. This episode we look at some tiny chameleons adapting to urban life, and now differ from their country relatives. 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: Petford MA, Herrel A, Alexander GJ,

26:49

179 Well-armed Newts

Herpetological Highlights ·

2023/12/19

An arms race between newts and snakes means biological warfare. 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: Gilbert AL, Cabrera S, Hague MTJ, Stokes AN, Feldman CR, Hanifin CT, Brodie ED, Brodie ED. 2023. Phenotypic outcomes of predator–prey coevolution are predicted by landscape variation in climate and community composition

26:08

178 Meadow Vipers like Grazed Grass

Herpetological Highlights ·

2023/12/13

New research sets out to work out what the meadow vipers like. 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: Mizsei E, Budai M, Móré A, Rák G, Radovics D, Bancsik B, Wenner B, Márton S, Korsós Z, Lengyel S, Vadász C. 2023. Management impacts on three reptile species ( Vipera ursinii , Lacerta agilis , Lacerta viridis ) in sandy

27:59

177 Are Iguanas Unwelcome Guests?

Herpetological Highlights ·

2023/12/05

Gopher tortoises build wonderful and important burrows, but what happens when an invasive species decides to move in. 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: Durso A, Rivero J. 2023. Black spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura similis) use of gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows in Buckingham, Florida. Florida Field

23:20

176 Snakes and Pharaohs

Herpetological Highlights ·

2023/12/04

We are relatively familiar with modern snake bite advice, but what snakes did the ancient Egyptians deal with? 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: McBride E, Winder IC, Wüster W. 2023. What Bit the Ancient Egyptians? Niche Modelling to Identify the Snakes Described in the Brooklyn Medical Papyrus. Environmental

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