Vertebrate Zoology

Herpetology

Current Research

Amphibian and reptile research in the herpetology collections of the Yale Peabody Museum’s Division of Vertebrate Zoology currently includes many subfields of natural history. Presently, curators and their students are conducting herpetological research in the areas of squamate osteology and systematics, turtle systematics, amphibian deformities and vernal pool ecology. Staff and affiliates currently have studies and interests that address amphibian life histories, New England amphibian and reptile geographic distributions and phenotypic variation, island biogeography, snake systematics and reproductive anatomy, and diversity of West Africa and Middle America.

The Division also has specimens collected in the 19th century that were generally not preserved with formalin, rendering them suitable today for research techniques such as DNA sequencing. Many of these specimens represent locality records that no longer exist, making them valuable for the study of systematic, phylogenetic, population and biogeographical patterns.

Recent Expeditions

• New Caledonia
• Costa Rica and El Salvador
• China and Hong Kong
• West Africa

Additionally, field collecting in New England and elsewhere in the United States has improved the taxonomic diversity of the North American holdings.

Faculty Affiliates

Günter Wagner

Curatorial Affiliates

Peter Brazaitis
Adalgisa Caccone
Anton A.A.M. Leenders
Jon A. Moore
Theodora Pinou
Maxim Shpak

The honorary titles of Faculty Affiliate and Curatorial Affiliate are given to individuals who give some of their time and expertise to the Division. Affiliates are appointed by a vote of the Board of Curators and typically serve a 5-year renewable term.

Other Staff and Volunteers

Technicians are often full-time students hired to assist with some aspect of the Division’s activities.

Anton Leenders

Although often not directly affiliated with a particular field of study, volunteers are willing to give their spare time to help the work of the Division.

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