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.
Reptiles could overtake amphibians as the highest priority for conservation among vertebrates as threats like climate change and invasive species worsen in the future, according to a new conservation index tool developed ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 21, 2025
0
49
Modern toads (Bufonidae) are among the most successful amphibians on the planet, a diverse group of more than 600 species that are found on every continent except Antarctica. But just how did they conquer the world? An international ...
Beneath the relentless sun of Chile's Atacama Desert, tiny geckos hide a remarkable secret. New genomic research, led by the University of Wollongong's (UOW) Kamryn Carter, has discovered that these resilient reptiles, known ...
Evolution
Oct 7, 2025
0
114
In my work as a veterinary pharmacologist, I never know exactly what I'm going to get when I open my email. It could be a request from a veterinarian asking my team to determine the concentration of a drug to treat the shell ...
Veterinary medicine
Sep 29, 2025
0
13
Two different studies published in GigaScience present the near-complete reference genomes of the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), a widely distributed species of dragon lizard common in central eastern Australia ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 18, 2025
0
195
Every year, hundreds of undergraduates at the University of Delaware pursue research under the guidance of a faculty mentor, especially during the summer months. Such experiences provided by UD—a nationally recognized research ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 7, 2025
0
26
A new gecko species, Paragehyra tsaranoro, has been discovered in Madagascar's Tsaranoro valley. As a microendemic species, it is restricted to only three small forest fragments in the region. This small species is under ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 24, 2025
0
40
The La Venta fossil site in Colombia is home to a rich fossil record, yielding a particularly diverse set of vertebrate fossil assemblages. The giant terror bird (phorusrhacid) and caiman—a large crocodile-like reptile—were ...
Several gecko species found during a series of surveys in a remote region of Cambodia have been confirmed as new to science. And these new discoveries may not be the last in this potentially rich wildlife haven. The research ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 30, 2025
0
32
High in the cloud-wrapped peaks of the Cordillera de Huancabamba, where the Andes dip and twist into isolated ridges, a team of Peruvian scientists has brought three secretive frogs out of obscurity and into the scientific ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 25, 2025
0
36
