Herpetological Highlights

Lizards can get stressed just like everyone else, and this week we are talking two extremes: weird legless ones living under the ground, and chameleons up in the trees. Chameleons are responding to heat and cold, while the underground amphisbaenians are feeling social stress thanks to some magic gel. 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: Martín J, Cuervo JJ, Recio P, Rodríguez-Ruiz G, Barja I, López P. 2026. Going stressed underground: corticosterone-induced stress responses alter the movement and spatial ecology of males in a fossorial reptile. Movement Ecology 14:48. DOI: 10.1186/s40462-026-00655-9. Tolley KA, Barends JM, Stanton-Jones WK, Alexander GJ. 2026. Natural history observations of the Knysna Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion damaranum (Boulenger, 1887): thermal extremes and feeding on flora. Herpetology Notes 19:219–228. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com

Anoles aren't known for being tolerant, but when it comes to lead they seem to be able to tolerate monumental amounts that would spell disaster for a puny human. We delve into how they survive being so lead-laden, as well as where that lead has come from, and what this might mean for lizard-kind. Then we hit upon a newly described species of snake which is even more slender than most. 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: Blanchette A, Su K-J, Frick AJ, Karubian J, Gunderson AR. 2025. Unprecedented lead tolerance in an urban lizard. Environmental Research 285:122531. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.122531. Species of the Bi-Week: Chen H-L, Zhang L, Liu G-X, Liu Z-F, Kwok C-T, Vogel G, Wang J-Y, Wu Z-J, Chen Z-N. 2026. A new genus and species of Dipsadidae (Reptilia: Squamata: Serpentes) from Guangdong and Hunan Provinces in Southern China. Zootaxa 5849:213–226. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5849.2.5. Other Mentioned Papers/Studies: Chen M, Gazze L, DiTraglia FJ, Das R, Nriagu J, Erel Y, Boyle EA, Taylor CM, Weiss D. 2025. Environmental lead risk in the 21st century. Communications Earth & Environment 6:776. DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02735-x. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com

Big brains are very useful, but they cost ENERGY and RESOURCES, at least for mammals and birds. Now a new study has shed light on what determines whether reptiles and amphibian species have evolved to be clever, or nice but dim. We also discuss cannibalism by snakes, which is actually pretty common albeit difficult to document due to their secretive 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: Song Z, Griesser M, Schuppli C, Van Schaik CP. 2023. Does the expensive brain hypothesis apply to amphibians and reptiles? BMC Ecology and Evolution 23:77. DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02188-w. Falcão BB, São Pedro VA, Entiauspe‐Neto OM. 2026. Occurrence and evolution of cannibal behaviour in extant snakes. Biological Reviews 101:644–664. DOI: 10.1111/brv.70097. Other Links/Mentions: Rana catesbeiana call by Carlos Davidson and Cynthia Kaufman, from AmphibiaWeb. 2026. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 30 Apr 2026. https://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?special=call&genus=Rana&species=catesbeiana  Turtle Alliance conference (no tickets yet but will appear here): https://www.turtlesurvival.eu/category/events/  Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com  

This week we delve into the evolutionary history of a fascinating little salamander from North America: the cascade torrent salamander. Volcanoes and flooding have shaped this species' history over the last 15 million years, but they remain steadfast. Then we chat about some newly described frogs from Ecuador. 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: Cousins CD, Olson DH, Millward LS, Adams MJ, Pearl CA, Rowe JC, Garcia TS. 2026. Genomics Reveals Extensive Population Structure and Undescribed Phylogenetic Relationships in the Cascade Torrent Salamander ( Rhyacotriton cascadae ). Journal of Biogeography 53:e70167. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.70167. Falcão BB, São Pedro VA, Entiauspe‐Neto OM. 2026. Occurrence and evolution of cannibal behaviour in extant snakes. Biological Reviews 101:644–664. DOI: 10.1111/brv.70097. Song Z, Griesser M, Schuppli C, Van Schaik CP. 2023. Does the expensive brain hypothesis apply to amphibians and reptiles? BMC Ecology and Evolution 23:77. DOI: 10.1186/s12862-023-02188-w. Species of the Bi-Week: Székely P, Hualpa-Vega S, Hualpa-Vega D, Székely D. 2026. Three new Pristimantis species in the subgenus Huicundomantis (Amphibia: Anura: Strabomantidae) from Reserva Biológica Cerro Plateado, southern Ecuador. PeerJ 14:e20930. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.20930. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com

This week we're diving into two reptile papers: the first is about desert lizards being secret nutritional strategists, timing what they eat across the year to nail mating season and prep for hibernation. Then we stumble into the chaotic world of rattlesnake seed dispersal, where a snake eats a rodent that ate a seed, and thanks to the snake, a tree grows. 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: Acevedo M, Salywon AM, Blackwell SA, Hodgson WC, Hughes ZS, Davis MA, Schuett GW. 2026. The potential for seed rescue and secondary dispersal in rattlesnakes. Royal Society Open Science 13:251226. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.251226. Joshi M, Tatu A, Hawlena D, Raubenheimer D, Thaker M. 2026. Desert lizards modulate nutritional responses to match seasonal biological needs. Royal Society Open Science 13:251690. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.251690. Editing and Music: Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com