Herpetology is the branch of zoological science dedicated to the study of amphibians and reptiles, encompassing their systematics, taxonomy, evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, ecology, and conservation biology. Herpetologists investigate phylogenetic relationships using morphological and molecular data, analyze population dynamics and life-history strategies, and examine adaptations such as thermoregulation, reproductive modes, and specialized sensory systems. The field also addresses pathogen dynamics (e.g., chytrid fungi in amphibians), habitat fragmentation, and climate change impacts, informing evidence-based management and conservation strategies. Herpetology integrates field surveys, experimental approaches, and bioinformatic analyses to understand biodiversity patterns and functional roles of these vertebrates in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Snakes are threatened with extinction in many places around the globe. Disease, often caused by parasites or fungi, is thought to be one of the key factors alongside habitat destruction. Prominent among fungal diseases is ...
Ecology
May 26, 2026
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The high mountain ranges of Asia remain among the least biologically explored regions of the continent. Now, an international team of researchers has shown that one of their most elusive venomous snakes, long treated as a ...
Plants & Animals
May 25, 2026
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It may sound too bizarre to be true, but the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), a fish that inhabits rivers, lakes, and swamps in Mexico and Texas, exists over much of its range in populations that are 100% female. In 1932, ...
Plants & Animals
May 22, 2026
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The sight of a saltwater crocodile basking on a mudbank is one of the most iconic and intimidating images of northern Australia. Yet the crocodiles that inhabit the region today are just the survivors of a much richer and ...
Paleontology & Fossils
May 20, 2026
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If you travel around Australia, you will find an incredible diversity of lizards. The three-toed snake-tooth skink (Saiphos reticulatus), for example, is a peculiarly long and stumpy-legged reptile that burrows in rainforest ...
Evolution
May 13, 2026
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Every day, millions of people watch their pet reptiles run, dig, swim or climb up against the walls of their enclosure. Reptile keepers call this "glass surfing," but among scientists, this conduct is typically considered ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 29, 2026
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March's record heat made it the most abnormally warm month in recorded U.S. history, bringing plants into bloom early and coaxing animals out of their winter hiding places ahead of schedule. Among the creatures making an ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 23, 2026
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Draped in a uniform coat of vibrant grass-green and possessing eyes that shimmer like amber, a newly discovered pitviper is the latest hidden jewel to be found in the misty mountains of western Sichuan, China.
Plants & Animals
Apr 22, 2026
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396
Poison frogs are small and brightly colored amphibians that originate from Central and South America. As suggested by their name, these frogs can release highly toxic chemicals from their skin, which deter and neutralize ...
When she was a kid in the 1970s, Karen Terio wasn't allowed to watch much television, but wildlife specials were permitted. That was how she learned about the work of Jane Goodall, who was studying the behavior of wild chimpanzees ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 14, 2026
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