Latest research
Newly published papers on reptiles and amphibians from the HerpAtlas research library, updated automatically. Browse by animal on the species pages.
- Tough toad ahead: ontogenetic variation in thermal tolerance defines life-stage vulnerability in Duttaphrynus melanostictus.
Wagh P, Dhere S, Thaker M et al. · Journal of thermal biology · 2026-03
- Effects of Simulated Dusk and Dawn on Activity and Feeding of Puerto Rican Crested Toads (Peltophryne lemur) in Captivity.
Parlato BP, Dunham NT · Zoo biology · 2026-03 · open access
- Effect of a helox atmosphere on the thermal, metabolic and hygric physiology of the scincid lizard Egernia kingii.
Cooper CE, Withers PC · Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology · 2026-03 · open access
Helox is a mix of 21% oxygen in helium, used to manipulate the density, thermal and diffusive environment of plants and endothermic vertebrates, but its physiological effects for ectotherms is relatively unknown. We examine how helox affects the physiology of King’s skink (Egernia kingii) when…
- A call for a systematic approach to documenting physiological diversity in squamates and beyond.
Alvarez I, Watson CM · The Journal of experimental biology · 2026-03
- Dietary intake temporal patterns during early childhood in relation to diet quality in middle childhood and the role of family characteristics: the GECKO Drenthe cohort.
Yang J, Navis G, Mars M et al. · European journal of nutrition · 2026-03 · open access
Purpose Early childhood food intakes may influence subsequent diet quality. This study described dietary intake temporal patterns of specific food groups from infancy to 3 years. It explored associations with diet quality at 10/11 years and investigated how family characteristics affect these…
- Navigation and spatial learning in Hermann's tortoises: Insights from geometric reorientation.
Baratti G, Luongo M, Ponticorvo M et al. · Journal of experimental psychology. Animal learning and cognition · 2026-03
- Differential Susceptibility May Not Drive Chytridiomycosis Related Declines in Multi-Host Amphibian Communities.
Ringwaldt E, Troy S, Philips A et al. · Ecology and evolution · 2026-03 · open access
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is the most catastrophic wildlife pathogen, associated with severe amphibian population declines or the extinction of over 500 species. Bd has the potential to influence the structure and dynamics of amphibian populations in multiple and compounding ways, yet few…
- Clashing in Murky Waters: On Amphibian Mosquito Suppression.
Boerlijst SP, Ummels A, Spitzen-van der Sluijs AM et al. · Ecology and evolution · 2026-03 · open access
Mosquito-borne diseases are on the rise globally due to the shifting distribution of key disease vector species. Due to increased global trade and travel and increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns, the spread of mosquitoes and the increasing burden of their accompanying…
- Animal Welfare Monitor: Raising the Bar for Species-Specific Welfare Evaluation Using Welfare Quality ® Principles.
Romain A, Briard L, Leroutier G et al. · Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026-03 · open access
Assessing zoo animal welfare can involve generic evaluations or targeted, species-specific protocols. While the latter offer greater precision, their development is often limited by species diversity and the lack of validated indicators. The Animal Welfare Monitor ® (AWM) protocol addresses these…
- Single oral-dose fluralaner treatment against Ophionyssus natricis infestation - a large scale study demostrating long-term efficacy in captive snakes.
Cattarossi D, Marchiori E, Marcer F et al. · Parasitology research · 2026-03 · open access
The hematophagous mite Ophionyssus natricis, vector of several viral and bacterial diseases in snakes, is one of the most challenging pathogens for snake breeders. The high environmental resistance of its larval stage makes repeated treatment of the animals unavoidable, while eradication of the…
- Coiling chirality? Wild eastern diamondback rattlesnakes ( Crotalus adamanteus ) do not exhibit clear lateralized coiling behaviour.
Guedouar E, Rodriguez A, Margres MJ et al. · Laterality · 2026-03
- Leveraging nature's experiments: David Crews' legacy in behavioral neuroendocrinology.
Sakata JT, Woolley SC, Gillette R et al. · Hormones and behavior · 2026-03
- Carcass-Based Surveillance of Amphibian Herpesviruses, Ranaviruses and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany.
Steiner N, Striewe LC, Leineweber C et al. · Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026-03 · open access
1. Introduction Amphibians are currently the most threatened vertebrate group worldwide, with extinction rates estimated to be up to 200 times higher than background levels. Declines have been ongoing since the mid-20th century and are driven by various factors, including habitat loss, climate…
- Prefemoral cystotomy in 45° dorsolateral recumbency is effective for urolith removal in African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata).
Nackley S, Di Girolamo N · American journal of veterinary research · 2026-03
- Clinical value of blood glucose concentrations in a large population of unhealthy client-owned chelonians.
Bakaj M, Colon V, Di Girolamo N · American journal of veterinary research · 2026-03
- Trapping Turtles or Trapping Errors? A case study in Alligator Snapping Turtles
Kameron C. Voves, Samantha L. Hannabass, Day B. Ligon · Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science · 2026-03
- Blood Vitamin Concentrations in Managed Hermann's Tortoises (Testudo hermanni) in Central Europe and Possible Seasonal and Sex-Specific Influences.
Leineweber C, Geisler G, Öfner S et al. · Veterinary clinical pathology · 2026-03
- Lower but not upper thermal tolerance differs with opportunity for thermoregulation in a semi-fossorial lizard.
Tevs DR, Lowe WH · Journal of thermal biology · 2026-03
- Balancing energy demands and thermal environments: The influence of ambient temperature on resting metabolic rate and behavioural thermoregulation in Rana temporaria.
Drakulić S, Stephan A, Rödel MO et al. · Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology · 2026-03 · open access
Amphibians, like other ectotherms, must balance conflicting demands for energy expenditure, physiological processes, and behaviour in response to environmental temperature variations that influence their survival and reproduction. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for assessing amphibians'…
- Molecular study of Rickettsia species in ticks and blood collected from hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus ) and tortoises ( Testudo graeca ) in Iran.
Ownagh A, Enferadi A, Rezaverdinejad M · One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2026-03 · open access
Background The family Rickettsiaceae, especially the genus Rickettsia , refers to obligate intracellular pathogens responsible for zoonotic diseases such as rickettsiosis. Primarily transmitted through arthropod vectors such as ticks, fleas, and lice, they pose serious concerns for both public…
- Postfire Asymmetric Reptile and Amphibian Responses in a Mediterranean Forest Ecosystem
Κostas Sagonas, Thomas Daftsios, Dionisios Iakovidis et al. · Conservation · 2026-03 · open access
In August 2023, a large forest fire burned more than 60% of the Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli Forest National Park in northeastern Greece, following another large fire in 2022. To quantify the effects of these fires on local herpetofauna, we analyzed community composition, abundance, and diversity before…
- Experimental infection of carpet pythons ( Morelia spilota ) with sunshinevirus.
Wesson JP, O'Dea MA, Currie AJ et al. · Journal of virology · 2026-03 · open access
Sunshinevirus was originally isolated in 2008 from a collection of Australian pythons suffering an outbreak of neuro-respiratory disease. Sunshinevirus infection cases, including chronic asymptomatic infections, have subsequently been detected throughout Australia by PCR testing. To investigate the…
- Dietary Exposure to Essential and Toxic Trace Elements in the Portuguese Population: A Total Diet Study Approach.
Ventura M, Rego A, Gueifão S et al. · Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026-03 · open access
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recognise Total Diet Studies (TDS) as an essential public health tool for assessing dietary exposure to beneficial and harmful substances through food. This study provides occurrence data for nine trace elements (As,…
- Efficacy of increased visual and olfactory cues for luring and trapping invasive tegu lizards
Amanda M. Kissel, Kevin Donmoyer, Mark Sandfoss et al. · Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science · 2026-03 · open access
Controlling invasive wildlife species relies on the ability to efficiently remove individuals from the invaded environment. Thus, maximizing capture potential is of high interest, particularly for species that are difficult to capture. For invasive species such as the Argentine black and white tegu…
- Population genomics identifies genetic structure and admixture in the endangered Beale's Eyed Turtle ( Sacalia bealei ), and implications for aquatic ecology and ex situ breeding.
Lee WH, Sung YH, Low BW et al. · Marine life science & technology · 2026-03 · open access
Freshwater turtles are one of the most threatened animal groups in the world, especially in Asia. The Beale's Eyed Turtle ( Sacalia bealei ) is a highly endangered Chinese species at risk of extinction due to overexploitation for the food and pet trades. Nonetheless, Hong Kong still houses a…
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