Latest research
Newly published papers on reptiles and amphibians from the HerpAtlas research library, updated automatically. Browse by animal on the species pages.
- Treatment of Potential Postpartum Eclampsia in a Python Using Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine: A Case Report.
Yang S, Liu Y, Mi J et al. · Veterinary medicine and science · 2026-09 · open access
According to the traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) theory, Yin deficiency contributes to the acute onset of eclampsia. This condition arises primarily from the substantial loss of blood and nutrients to the foetus during pregnancy, leading to insufficient nutrition and blood supply.…
- Behavioural Welfare Implications of Human Handling Practices in Zoo Snakes.
Kennedy C, Hanson SL, Walker C et al. · Veterinary medicine and science · 2026-09 · open access
Background Handling reptiles, particularly snakes, is common in ambassador-animal and animal-visitor interaction programmes. However, relatively little is known about the behavioural and welfare impacts of these interactions on snakes. Objectives This study examined whether staff-led handling…
- Prioritizing removals of a highly cryptic invasive species using machine learning and demographic weighting.
Romer AS, Miller MA, Balaguera-Reina SA et al. · Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America · 2026-09 · open access
Invasive species present substantial challenges to biodiversity conservation, particularly when low detectability and demographic heterogeneity obscure the population-level consequences of management actions. Invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in South Florida exemplify this challenge, as…
- Population decline of a leaf frog coincident with recurrent ranavirosis outbreaks in the Atlantic Forest
Fonseca A, Rosa G, Rico J et al. · Biodiversity and conservation · 2026-09
- Integrative thermal and hydric responses to dynamic heat-desiccation challenge in an endangered tepui summit amphibian.
Kapuściak M, Wisse BB, Kok PJR · Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology · 2026-09 · open access
Small amphibians active on dry, sunlit substrates face a physiological conflict: exposure to solar radiation and heat transfer from sun-warmed substrates can increase body temperature and activity, but permeable skin makes such exposure costly through rapid evaporative water loss. Most amphibians…
- Prevalence of the novel amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in Europe and its relationship to host richness and density
Korotasz AM, Böning P, Bosch J et al. · Journal of Applied Ecology · 2026-09
- Farmers' Perceptions of the Influence of Wildlife Biodiversity on Crop Yield in Dargué, Niger
Ado Salifou Hadiza, Malam Abdou Sabitou, Abarchi Idrissa et al. · International Journal of Plant & Soil Science · 2026-09 · open access
Background: Wildlife biodiversity in agricultural fields can provide ecological functions that support crop production, while some species may also damage crops. This study assessed farmers' perceptions of the influence of wildlife biodiversity on crop yield in Dargué, Niger. Methods: Data were…
- Microbiome Insights Into Zoonotic Risk at Wildlife-Human Interfaces in a Transitioning Landscape in Thailand.
Van Leeuwen P, Thinphovong C, Sluydts V et al. · Integrative zoology · 2026-09 · open access
Land-use change is accelerating worldwide and is one of the strongest predictors of emerging zoonotic disease. These ecological transitions can disrupt host microbiomes, change pathogen carriage, and create novel opportunities for spillover at wildlife-livestock-human interfaces. Yet, little is…
- Mitigating Effects of Nest Structure on Predation Risk in Hainan Partridge ( Arborophila ardens ).
Zhang Y, Ding Y, Wang J et al. · Ecology and evolution · 2026-08 · open access
Nest predation is the primary factor contributing to breeding failure, particularly in tropical regions. Enclosed nest structures can disrupt predator search efficiency and reduce predation risk. However, their effectiveness varies with environmental conditions. In this study, we tested whether the…
- Effects of Growth Stage and Physiological State on Gut Health, Antioxidant Capacity, and Muscle Nutritional Composition in Greenhouse-Cultured Pelodiscus sinensis .
Yang Q, Liao Y, Quan H et al. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026-08 · open access
The production performance, muscle quality, and gut microbiota of aquatic animals are closely associated with host growth stage and disease status. This study therefore compared the gut health, antioxidant capacity, and muscle nutritional composition of greenhouse-cultured Pelodiscus sinensis…
- Localized Coagulative Myonecrosis Presenting as a Discrete Thigh Mass in a Captive Red Tegu (Salvator rufescens)
Yash Bhate, Ushma D Patel, Soham Mukherjee · Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences · 2026-08 · open access
A discrete, firm mass was identified on the dorsal aspect of the right thigh of an adult female Red Tegu (Salvator rufescens) maintained at Sardar Patel Zoological Park, Gujarat, India. The swelling had enlarged slowly over approximately four months, while the animal remained clinically stable with…
- Fungal dermatitis associated with Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides in two diplodactylid geckos (Correlophus ciliatus and Rhacodactylus auriculatus).
Nagao J, Hosoya T, Nam KO et al. · The Journal of veterinary medical science · 2026-08
- A Multi‐Species Examination of Temporal Capture Trends in Freshwater Turtles
Fenton S. McKown, Ana G. G. Sapp, Emma M. Wilson et al. · Ecological Research · 2026-08 · open access
ABSTRACT Accurate estimates of wildlife population demographics are essential for ecological research and conservation, yet field sampling is often constrained by limited resources and imperfect detection. Freshwater turtles, among the most threatened vertebrate taxa, are commonly surveyed using…
- Phosphorescence lifetime microscopy and contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging revealed strong left-to-right intraventricular shunt in anesthetized Xenopus laevis.
Hashimoto K, Ohira M, Kimoto M et al. · The journal of physiological sciences : JPS · 2026-08 · open access
Amphibians exhibit intracardiac shunting, by which oxygen from multiple respiratory surfaces is variably distributed between systemic and pulmonary circulations. Although shunting has been extensively studied in terrestrial species that rely heavily on pulmonary respiration, much less is known…
- Torque limitations on cantilevering in Dendrelaphis snakes.
Graham M, Astley HC, Clemente CJ et al. · The Journal of experimental biology · 2026-08
- PROFET predicts continuous gene expression dynamics from scRNA-seq data to elucidate heterogeneity of cancer treatment responses.
Cheng YC, Gu H, McDonald TO et al. · Cell systems · 2026-08
- Corticosterone Concentration Varies With Metabolic Rate in Vertebrates.
Wisnionski AR, Haase CG, Dy I et al. · Ecology and evolution · 2026-08 · open access
Characterizing the adaptive or maladaptive effects of physiological stress based on glucocorticoid hormone levels remains a challenge in vertebrates. It remains unclear to what extent these measures capture the multi-dimensional nature of physiological stress, how to compare measures across…
- The effects of exogenous sex hormones on body colour, mate choice and behavior in the white-striped grass lizard Takydromus wolteri.
Xu J, He X, Zhang S et al. · Physiology & behavior · 2026-08
- Pathological aspects of an amebiasis outbreak in captive testudines.
Amaral CI, Bezerra LS, de Oliveira Freitas DC et al. · Journal of comparative pathology · 2026-08
- Ontogenetic Trophic Differentiation in the Amur Softshell Turtle ( Pelodiscus maackii ) From a Temperate Large-River System.
Hou X · Ecology and evolution · 2026-08 · open access
The Amur softshell turtle ( Pelodiscus maackii ) has undergone severe population declines across northeastern China, yet its trophic ecology remains poorly understood. Because ontogenetic dietary shifts can generate size-structured functional roles within food webs, clarifying diet across life…
- Links between color conspicuousness, territorial behavior, and steroids in a color polymorphic lizard.
Romero-Diaz C, Pruett JA, Martins EP · Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology · 2026-08 · open access
Discrete color polymorphisms often correlate with other traits, forming suites of characteristics that may be signaled and inform mate-choice decisions and/or dominance interactions with conspecifics. Unraveling the adaptive function and maintenance of stable color polymorphisms thus requires…
- The terrestrial vertebrates of Norfolk Island: Results of the Australian Museum Expedition, October 2022
Mark D. B. Eldridge, Rebecca Bray, Emily Cave et al. · Technical Reports of the Australian Museum online · 2026-08
- Brainstem Theory of Consciousness.
Devor M, Baron M · The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry · 2026-08 · open access
- After the Fire, Hope Springs Eternal: Movements and Body Condition of Hermann's Tortoises in a Devastated Landscape
Clément Guenier, Arthur Baribeaud, Laura Madona et al. · Animal Conservation · 2026-08 · open access
ABSTRACT Forest fires are becoming more intense and frequent, which has serious consequences for animal populations. Rapid assessment of the impact of fires on endangered species is essential for accurately guiding conservation efforts. The impacts of fire can be immediate, such as death from heat…
- Candidatus Allocryptoplasma Godzilla, a Novel Ca. Allocryptoplasma Species Detected in Marine Iguanas from Galápagos Islands.
Maggi RG, Williams E, Lewbart GA et al. · Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026-08 · open access
Candidatus ( Ca. ) Allocryptoplasma is a newly identified, genetically diverse genus of vector-borne bacteria closely related to established blood-borne zoonotic pathogens, including Anaplasma , Ehrlichia , and Neoehrlichia species. Ca. Allocryptoplasma is a globally distributed pathogen detected…
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