Common knowledge suggests that albino animals are rare in the wild because they stick out like a sore thumb and get eaten by predators, but studies supporting this are relatively scarce. Now, researchers from Australia have discovered that the drawbacks of albinism are not limited to their obvious appearance. Even better, they used our old friends cane toads to prove it. 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: Funk AT, Martin J, Clark M, Païta A, Jolly CJ, Shine R. 2025. Knocking out genes to reveal drivers of natural selection on phenotypic traits: a study of the fitness consequences of albinism. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292:20251458. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.1458. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Clark MB, Funk AT, Paporakis A, Brown GP, Beach SJ, Tay A, Deering S, Cooper C, Tizard M, Jolly CJ, Ward-Fear G, Waddle AW, Shine R, Maselko M. 2025. Efficient CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing of the Cane Toad ( Rhinella marina ). The CRISPR Journal 8:321–332. DOI: 10.1177/25731599251382427. Stephenson BP, Velani Z, Ihász N. 2022. The effect of albinism on avian predator attack rates in eastern garter snakes. Zoology 150:125987. DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2021.125987. Other Links/Mentions: Motorbike frog call from: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/517096-Ranoidea-moorei Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
New methods in antivenom technology may yield a treatment that works on most of the cobras in Africa, thanks to the blood of alpacas and some very clever scientists. Then we follow up with two new species of sleepyhead snake from Venezuala. 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: Ahmadi S, Burlet NJ, Benard-Valle M, Guadarrama-Martínez A, Kerwin S, Cardoso IA, Marriott AE, Edge RJ, Crittenden E, Neri-Castro E, Fernandez-Quintero ML, Nguyen GTT, O’Brien C, Wouters Y, Kalogeropoulos K, Thumtecho S, Ebersole TW, Dahl CH, Glegg-Sørensen EU, Jansen T, Boddum K, Manousaki E, Rivera-de-Torre E, Ward AB, Morth JP, Alagón A, Mackessy SP, Ainsworth S, Menzies SK, Casewell NR, Jenkins TP, Ljungars A, Laustsen AH. 2025. Nanobody-based recombinant antivenom for cobra, mamba and rinkhals bites. Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09661-0. Species of the Bi-Week: Esqueda LF, Rojas-Runjaic FJM, Prudente A, Bazó S, Navarrete LF, Carmargo-Sillet E, Ortiz JC, Correa C, Guerrero P, Urra F. 2025. A first phylogenetic and taxonomic approach to sleepyhead snakes from Venezuela (Dipsadidae: Atractus), with the description of two new Andean species. Organisms Diversity & Evolution. DOI: 10.1007/s13127-025-00682-1. Other Links/Mentions: https://www.redbubble.com/people/herphighlights/shop Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Urban areas represent both opportunities and risks for animals, and they adapt their behaviour in many ways to cope with this fast-paced lifestyle. Now, a new study has detailed how urban wall lizards in Croatia have richer social lives than their rural counterparts. Then we chat about a listener-submitted story detailing wild lizards eating pizza. 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: Maune AL, Wittenbreder T, Lisičić D, Caspers BA, Camerlenghi E, Damas-Moreira I. 2025. City lizards are more social. Biology Letters 21:20250326. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2025.0326. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Dendi, D., Segniagbeto, G. H., Meek, R., & Luiselli, L. (2023). Opportunistic foraging strategy of rainbow lizards at a seaside resort in Togo. African Journal of Ecology, 61(1), 226-227. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Research from Asian geckos generally suggests that sticky pads are used for smooth surfaces, while claws help grip onto rougher surfaces like wood and rocks. But a new study using Australian geckos is has turned that paradigm upside-down. Then we talk about a brand new species of frog described from the mountains of central 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: Pillai RR, Riedel J, Wirth W, Allen-Ankins S, Nordberg E, Edwards W, Schwarzkopf L. 2025. What’s the point? The functional role of claws in pad-bearing taxa (Gekkota: Diplodactylidae). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292:20251362. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.1362. Species of the Bi-Week: Li S, Shi S, Liu J, Zhao J, Gao S, Wang B. 2025. A new species of the Boulenophrys (Anura, Megophryidae) from Hubei, China. Zoosystematics and Evolution 101:1213–1226. DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.155859. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: GEORGALIS, G. L., & JONES, M. E. (2025). A new peculiar early diverging caenophidian snake (Serpentes) from the late Eocene of Hordle Cliff, England. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 24(25), 505-530. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Toads continue to amaze us - this time they are using their sense of the Earth's magnetic field to find their way home. But how important this sense is for cane toads as they travel home from long journeys, and how much are they relying on their sense of smell, was a mystery, until a clever new study tested the toads. Then we briefly touch on how pythons digest bones so successfully. Main Paper References: Fernandez RC, Sotelo MI. 2025. A toad’s journey home: towards elucidating the neural and sensory basis of amphibian navigation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.0525. Shaykevich DA, Pareja-Mejía D, Golde C, Pašukonis A, O’Connell LA. 2025. Neural and sensory basis of homing behaviour in the invasive cane toad, Rhinella marina. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292:20250045. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.0045. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Lignot J-H, Pope RK, Secor SM. 2025. Diet-dependent production of calcium- and phosphorus-rich ‘spheroids’ along the intestine of Burmese pythons: identification of a new cell type? Journal of Experimental Biology 228:jeb249620. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.249620. Other Links/Mentions: Starr M. 2025.New Cell Discovered in Pythons Allows Them to Completely Digest Bones. Available at https://www.sciencealert.com/new-cell-discovered-in-pythons-allows-them-to-completely-digest-bones (accessed August 25, 2025). Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
We recap some of our recent travels, and then chat about bearded dragons. A new study shows that these lizards are making decisions about how they maintain their body temperature, and this has a knock-on effect on how well they perform during their daily lives. Being cold-blooded is complicated. 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: Wild KH, Roe JH, Curran J, Pearson PR, Schwanz L, Georges A, Sarre SD. 2025. Thermal performance curves, activity and survival in a free‐ranging ectotherm. Journal of Animal Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.70091. Species of the Bi-Week: Petzold A, Glaw F, Mullin KE, Rakotoarison A, Raselimanana AP, Cottini A, Orozco-terWengel P, Kohler J, Protzel D, Vences M, Hofreiter M, Scherz MD. 2025. A preliminary assessment of the diversity in the frog genus Anilany (Microhylidae: Cophylinae) with description of a new species from western Madagascar. Salamandra. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Marshall BM, Strine CT, Gore ML, Eskew EA, Stringham OC, Cardoso P, Chekunov S, Watters F, Fukushima C, García-Díaz P, Sinclair JS, Tlusty MF, Almeida RJ, Valdez JW, Hughes AC. 2025. Mapping the global dimensions of US wildlife imports. Current Biology:S0960982225008784. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.07.012. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
In this episode we are talking chameleons, one of nature's most famous colour changers. But despite their famous status, very few studies have actually demonstrated that they can change colour under controlled conditions. Research led by our very own Tom Major has shown that flap-necked chameleons from Tanzania are capable of changing their colour, and brightness, to match their surroundings and escape predation. 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: Major T, Hesten ACM, Stipala J, Cant MA, Stevens M, Troscianko J. 2025 Flap-necked chameleons change colour to match their background. Biology Letters 21: 20250134 Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Drown, R. M., Liebl, A. L., & Anderson, C. V. (2022). The functional basis for variable antipredatory behavioral strategies in the chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus. Journal of Experimental Biology, 225(10), jeb242955. Stuart-Fox, D., Whiting, M. J., & Moussalli, A. (2006). Camouflage and colour change: antipredator responses to bird and snake predators across multiple populations in a dwarf chameleon. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 88(3), 437-446. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
The minds of reptiles remain largely mysterious to us, and we often wonder what kind of emotions they are capable of feeling. In this episode we dig into a new study which tries to uncover some of the mysteries of tortoise cognition, particularly whether they can experience different moods. We follow that up with a newly described species of lizard from the rocky deserts of Arabia. Main Paper References: Hoehfurtner T, Wilkinson A, Moszuti SA, Burman OHP. 2025. Evidence of mood states in reptiles. Animal Cognition 28. DOI: 10.1007/s10071-025-01973-y. Species of the Bi-Week: Šmíd J, Velenská D, Pola L, Tamar K, Busais S, Shobrak M, Almutairi M, Salim AFA, Alsubaie SD, AlGethami RHM, AlGethami AR, Alanazi ASK, Alshammari AM, Egan DM, Ramalho RO, Olson D, Smithson J, Chirio L, Burger M, Van Huyssteen R, Petford MA, Carranza S. 2025. Phylogeny and systematics of Arabian lacertids from the Mesalina guttulata species complex (Squamata, Lacertidae), with the description of a new species. BMC Zoology 10. DOI: 10.1186/s40850-025-00233-3. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Harding EJ, Paul ES, Mendl M. 2004. Cognitive bias and affective state. Nature 427:312–312. DOI: 10.1038/427312a. Moszuti SA, Wilkinson A, Burman OHP. 2017. Response to novelty as an indicator of reptile welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 193:98–103. DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.03.018. Other Links/Mentions: Alamshah AL, Marshall BM. 2025. Big bills, small changes: with few exceptions, Jungle crows show minor variation in bill morphology across their distribution. EcoEvoRxiv. DOI: 10.32942/X2NW74. https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/9694/ Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
A monumental new study has addressed the likely impacts of climate change on the activity of desert lizards in Africa and Australia. Hotter temperatures will likely ‘squeeze’ the activity window of some lizards, especially those active during the day. We chat about the ramifications of this paper, before turning to news of dogs being attacked by anacondas. 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: Wild KH, Huey RB, Pianka ER, Clusella-Trullas S, Gilbert AL, Miles DB, Kearney MR. 2025. Climate change and the cost-of-living squeeze in desert lizards. Science 387:303–309. DOI: 10.1126/science.adq4372. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Starace, F., & Ineich, I. (2025). Predation on dogs by Green Anacondas, Eunectes murinus (Linnaeus, 1758): two cases from French Guiana. Herpetology Notes, 18, 415-419. Other Links/Mentions: Rhinella alata call from James LS, O’Mara MT, Touchon JC, Ryan MJ, Bernal XE, Page RA. 2025. The ontogeny of decision-making in an eavesdropping predator. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292:20250450. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.0450. AmphibiaWeb - Rhinella alata. Available at https://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?where-scientific_name=Rhinella+alata&rel-scientific_name=contains&include_synonymies=Yes (accessed June 19, 2025). Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Bats have famously good hearing, and fringe-lipped bats in Panama have tuned theirs to listen out for frogs calling out for mates. But these bats are quite particular about which amphibians they eat. New research has revealed that bats have to learn these skills, as the youngsters have way less idea which frogs they can safely tackle. We finish off talking about a newly described skink from urban 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: James LS, O’Mara MT, Touchon JC, Ryan MJ, Bernal XE, Page RA. 2025. The ontogeny of decision-making in an eavesdropping predator. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292:20250450. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.0450. Species of the Bi-Week: Jia R-W, Gao Z-Y, Wu D-H, Wang G-Q, Liu G, Liu M, Jiang K, Jiang D-C, Ren J-L, Li J-T. 2025. Hidden Urban Biodiversity: A New Species of the Genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Southwest China. Animals 15:232. DOI: 10.3390/ani15020232. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
New research suggests that tokay geckos can distinguish between different people, shedding further light on the intelligence of lizards. We delve into this study and voice warranted concerns about the intelligence of these little maniacs. 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: Damas-Moreira I, Bégué L, Ringler E, Szabo B. 2025. Tokay geckos adjust their behaviour based on handler familiarity but according to context. Scientific Reports 15:11364. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-95936-5. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Correa, C., Riveros-Riffo, E., & Donoso, J. P. (2025). Lost for more than a century: the rediscovery of Alsodes vittatus (Philippi, 1902)(Anura, Alsodidae), one of the rarest and most elusive amphibians from Chile. ZooKeys, 1230, 195. Other Links/Mentions: Pensoft Publishers. 2025.Ghost Frog Found: Scientists Stumble Upon Species Missing Since 1902. Available at https://scitechdaily.com/ghost-frog-found-scientists-stumble-upon-species-missing-since-1902/ (accessed May 1, 2025). Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Almost all pythons and some boas have heat pits on their faces. This extraordinary adaptation lets these snakes 'see' the heat signature of their unsuspecting prey. A new study has determined the evolutionary history of these amazing attributes, and worked out whether they are more prevalent in snakes with certain lifestyles. 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: Biswas A, Ghosh A, Agashe M. 2025. In ‘hot’ pursuit: exploring the evolutionary ecology of labial pits in boas and pythons. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292:20250199. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2025.0199. Species of the Bi-Week: Albuquerque NR, Martins RH, Carvalho PS, Shepard DB, Santana DJ. 2025. A new species of parrot snake, Leptophis (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Brazilian Cerrado. PeerJ 13:e18528. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18528. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Bontrager DR, Christie JT, Pierce AJ, Artchawakom T, Waengsothorn S, Jones MD. 2025. Ritualistic Male–Male Combat of the Northern King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) in Thailand. Ecology and Evolution 15:e71191. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.71191. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com
Day geckos and certain plants share a long evolutionary history, with day geckos feasting on nectar and in return pollinating plants. A study from back in the mid 2000s proved this neatly, and we delve into it this episode. After that, we have a snake eating somebody's underwear, and a very novel new method for controlling invasive cane toads in Australia. 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: Hansen DM, Beer K, Müller CB. 2006. Mauritian coloured nectar no longer a mystery: a visual signal for lizard pollinators. Biology Letters 2:165–168. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2006.0458. Other Links/Mentions: Brann M. 2025. Woman finds python eating her bra and shirt for breakfast. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-25/cattle-producer-finds-python-eating-bra-and-shirt/104976022 de Kruijff P. 2025. Cannibal cane toad tadpoles that never grow up could help toad control. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-04-08/cane-toad-created-that-never-grows-up-and-eats-its-siblings/105100286 Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
A new study has proven that ancient iguanas rafted over sea all the way from North America to Fiji, a staggering 8,000 km away. We discuss this epic voyage, and then turn our attention to a colourful new species of wolf snake from Myanmar. 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: Scarpetta SG, Fisher RN, Karin BR, Niukula JB, Corl A, Jackman TR, McGuire JA. 2025. Iguanas rafted more than 8,000 km from North America to Fiji. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122:e2318622122. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318622122. Species of the Bi-Week: Van Nguyen T, Lee Jl, Jiang K, Ding L, Chit Mat, Poyarkov Na, Vogel G. 2025. A new species of wolf snake Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 from China and Myanmar (Squamata: Colubridae), and new data on Lycodon gongshan Vogel & Luo, 2011. Zootaxa 5621:1–51. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5621.1.1. Other Links/Mentions: Bakar F. 2019.Frogs who married “to bring rain” to Indian village get divorced. Available at https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/15/frogs-who-married-to-bring-rain-to-indian-village-get-divorced-because-of-too-much-downpour-10745884/ (accessed April 30, 2025). Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
Are rare meadow vipers under threat from the world’s smoothest snake? We find out, then we chat about why asp vipers come in different colours. 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: Wenner B, Móré A, Radovics D, Bancsik B, Budai M, Rák G, Kovács G, Szabolcs M, Korsós Z, Mizsei E. 2025. The Smooth Snake is not a threat to the Meadow Viper: predator–prey interactions of a reptile specialist snake. Community Ecology. DOI: 10.1007/s42974-025-00234-9. Dubey S, Zwahlen V, Mebert K, Monney J-C, Golay P, Ott T, Durand T, Thiery G, Kaiser L, Geser SN, Ursenbacher S. 2015. Diversifying selection and color-biased dispersal in the asp viper. BMC Evolutionary Biology 15:99. DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0367-4. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
This episode is all about the problems rattlesnakes face in the wild. A brilliant new study uncovers whether predatory birds in America are resistant to the toxins of the rattlesnakes they eat, and then we talk about how rattlesnakes deal with the problem of getting water in dry environments. Finally, a beautiful new species of pitviper has been described from 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: Balchan NR, Crowther TW, Kratz G, Mackessy SP. 2025. Raptors without resistance: No evidence for endogenous inhibition of rattlesnake venom metalloproteinases in a Great Plains raptor assemblage. Toxicon 256:108275. DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108275. McIntyre MG, Van Mierlo M, Parker MR, Goetz SM, Taylor EN, Boback SM. 2024. Rain-harvesting behavior in free-ranging prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis). Current Zoology:zoae069. DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoae069. Species of the Bi-Week: Pawangkhanant P, Idiiatullina SS, Smits T, Dugdale I, Pierce A, Suwannapoom C, Poyarkov NA. 2025. A NEW SPECIES OF KARST-ASSOCIATED PITVIPER OF THE Trimeresurus kanburiensis COMPLEX (SQUAMATA: VIPERIDAE) FROM EASTERN THAILAND. Taprobanica 14. DOI: 10.47605/tapro.v14i1.347. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
Some tree-dwelling salamanders have a remarkable ability to ‘sky-dive’, controlling their descent after leaping away from predators. New research tests the gliding ability of a number of different species, and finds that some are more adept than others. We follow up with a brand new frog species described from Kangaroo Island, Australia. 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: Brown CE, Sathe EA, Dudley R, Deban SM. 2022. Aerial maneuvering by plethodontid salamanders spanning an arboreality gradient. Journal of Experimental Biology 225:jeb244598. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244598. Species of the Bi-Week: Parkin T, Rowley JJL, Elliott-Tate J, Mahony MJ, Sumner J, Melville J, Donnellan SC. 2024. Systematic assessment of the brown tree frog (Anura: Pelodryadidae: Litoria ewingii) reveals two endemic species in South Australia. Zootaxa 5406:1–36. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5406.1.1. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Brown, C. E., Goldenberg, W. P., Hinds, O. M., O'Donnell, M. K., & Staub, N. L. (2025). Vascular and Osteological Morphology of Expanded Digit Tips Suggests Specialization in the Wandering Salamander (Aneides vagrans). Journal of Morphology, 286(1), e70026. Other Links/Mentions: Sounds of Northern Pacific Treefrog - Pseudacris regilla. Available at https://californiaherps.com/frogs/pages/p.regilla.sounds.html (accessed February 18, 2025). Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
We are talking about our own work this week, focusing on our latest research into Europe’s foremost colubrid, the Aesculapian snake. We chat about radio-tracking these beasts and dive into some of the media coverage this study has received. Finally, we touch on some good conservation news from the Zoological Society of London. 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: Major T, Jeffrey L, Limia Russel G, Bracegirdle R, Gandini A, Morgan R, Marshall BM, Mulley JF, Wüster W. 2025. A reliance on human habitats is key to the success of an introduced predatory reptile. PLOS ONE 20:e0310352. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310352. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Major, T., Bracegirdle, R., Gandini, A., Russell, G. L., Pozzi, A. V., Morgan, R., ... & Wüster, W. (2023). Mate today, gone tomorrow: male on female cannibalism in Zamenis longissimus (Laurenti, 1768) in North Wales. Herpetology Notes, 16, 51-54. Other Links/Mentions: BBC Radio 4 inside science (Tom at 20:35): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0027txb Conversation article about Aesculapian snakes: https://theconversation.com/britain-has-a-new-snake-species-should-climate-change-mean-it-is-allowed-to-stay-249043 Leap of Hope documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs1SIs0KRlk&ab_channel=ZSL-ZoologicalSocietyofLondon Sample I. 2025. Endangered frogs born at London zoo after rescue mission in Chile. The Guardian. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
Salamanders and frogs return to their home pools to breed, but removal of these pools is making life more difficult for them. New research discovers how artificial pools can affect the genetics and fates of both spotted salamanders and wood frogs. 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: Winters DM, Wilson E, Coster SS, Rothenberger MB. 2024. Integrating Population Genetics With Long‐Term Environmental Monitoring to Evaluate and Guide Vernal Pool Creation for Amphibian Conservation. Ecology and Evolution 14. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70431. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Davis CL, Muñoz DJ, Amburgey SM, Dinsmore CR, Teitsworth EW, Miller DAW. 2023. Multistate model to estimate sex‐specific dispersal rates and distances for a wetland‐breeding amphibian population. Ecosphere 14. DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4345. Other Links/Mentions: Sabillo K. 2025.Bangladesh sees first ever rewilding of captive-bred elongated tortoises. Available at https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/01/bangladesh-sees-first-ever-rewilding-of-captive-bred-elongated-tortoises/ (accessed January 23, 2025). Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
The Asian common toad (aka Asian black-spined toad, Asian toad, black-spectacled toad) is a remarkably successful species, living alongside humans and colonising new lands. A new study suggests there might be more than meets the eye, with the toads being more than one species. We finish with a newly described tiny species of chameleon from Madagascar. 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: Dufresnes C, Jablonski D, Ambu J, Prasad VK, Bala Gautam K, Kamei RG, Mahony S, Hofmann S, Masroor R, Alard B, Crottini A, Edmonds D, Ohler A, Jiang J, Khatiwada JR, Gupta SK, Borzée A, Borkin LJ, Skorinov DV, Melnikov DA, Milto KD, Konstantinov EL, Künzel S, Suchan T, Arkhipov DV, Trofimets AV, Nguyen TV, Suwannapoom C, Litvinchuk SN, Poyarkov NA. 2025. Speciation and historical invasions of the Asian black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus). Nature Communications 16. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54933-4. Species of the Bi-Week: Rakotoarison A, Hasiniaina AF, Glaw F, Vences M. 2024. A new miniaturized species of leaf chameleon, genus Brookesia, from a littoral forest fragment in eastern Madagascar. Zootaxa 5506:533–547. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5506.4.3. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Vázquez Torres S, Benard Valle M, Mackessy SP, Menzies SK, Casewell NR, Ahmadi S, Burlet NJ, Muratspahić E, Sappington I, Overath MD, Rivera-de-Torre E, Ledergerber J, Laustsen AH, Boddum K, Bera AK, Kang A, Brackenbrough E, Cardoso IA, Crittenden EP, Edge RJ, Decarreau J, Ragotte RJ, Pillai AS, Abedi M, Han HL, Gerben SR, Murray A, Skotheim R, Stuart L, Stewart L, Fryer TJA, Jenkins TP, Baker D. 2025. De novo designed proteins neutralize lethal snake venom toxins. Nature:1–7. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08393-x. Other Links/Mentions: Callaway E. 2025. AI-designed proteins tackle century-old problem — making snake antivenoms. Nature 637:776–776. DOI: 10.1038/d41586-025-00133-z. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com Intro visuals – Paul Snelling
andy bunn
Tom you seem like you're not having a good day!
andy bunn
really interesting episode. The yellow belly sea snake clip is awesome.
Elizabeth Harvey
great episode 👍🏻
Kerrie Forrester
just found this podcast! in case it hasn't been said yet, the pronunciation of Apalachicola is apple-at-cha-co-la :) you can remember it by thinking that in Appalachia, they'll throw an apple atcha (at ya).