by Herpetological Highlights
Bringing you the recent scientific advancements in the field of Herpetology.
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
5/27/2017
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April 6, 2025
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
March 23, 2025
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
March 9, 2025
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
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