We describe a new species of lizard in the genus Pseudogekko from Sibuyan and Tablas islands in the Romblon Island Group of the central Philippines. The new species is diagnosed from other Philippine Pseudogekko by body size and shape, color pattern, and multiple differences in scale characteristics. Pseudogekko isapa sp. nov. has been collected only twice from leaves of shrubs in forested...

We describe a new digitless scincid lizard of the genus Brachymeles from northern Luzon and Camiguin Norte islands in the Philippines. This species belongs to the Brachymeles bonitae Complex, and both molecular and morphological data confirm that this species is distinct from all other congeners. Formerly considered to be a single widespread species, this group of species has been the focus of...

We summarize all available amphibian and reptile species distribution data from the northeast Mindanao faunal region, including small islands associated with this subcenter of endemic vertebrate biodiversity. Together with all publicly available historical information from biodiversity repositories, we present new data from several major herpetological surveys, including recently conducted inventories on four major mountains of northeast Mindanao, and adjacent islands of Camiguin...

...

The Palawan Pleistocene Aggregate Island Complex, a western Philippines island group, possesses a complex geologic history and numerous endemic vertebrates. On the basis of multiple unique morphological features, bolstered by genetic data supporting divergent lineages, we describe the first Philippine endemic species of Lygosoma from Palawan and Cuyo islands. This new semifossorial species is phenotypically similar to Lygosoma quadrupes, a widespread Southeast...

Twenty-six gekkonid lizards from the Philippines consisting of Cyrtodactylus philippinicus (n 5 12) and Gekko mindorensis (n 5 14) were examined for helminths. One species of Cestoda as cycticercoids and 6 species of Nematoda: Bakeria schadi, Meteterakis longispiculata, Parapharyngodon maplestoni, Physalopteroides sp., Pharyngodonidae gen. sp., and Physalopteridae larva, were found. Both gekkonid species harbored Parapharyngodon maplestoni and Physalopteroides sp. Parapharyngodon maplestoni had...

A new species of slender skink is described from the Philippines. The species is endemic to Lubang Island, and is assigned to the Brachymeles bonitae Complex based on phenotypic and genetic data. Specimens were collected from Lubang Island between 1991 and 2012, and were examined based on morphological data (qualitative traits, meristic counts, and mensural measurements). Published genetic sequence data from phylogenetic...

Studies of the diversity of Philippine amphibians and reptiles have resulted in the continued description of cryptic species. Species formerly thought to range across multiple recognized faunal regions are now considered to be assemblages of multiple unique species, each restricted to a single faunal region. This pattern continues to hold true when considering Philippine skinks of the genus Brachymeles. Recent studies have...

Last weekend, Siler Lab members joined in with 350+ other participants from around the state to sample biodiversity along Lake Texoma at the OU Biological Station for Oklahoma BioBlitz! 2016.  There were a total of 19 herpetological species documented, with two notable venomous snakes caught by graduate students Nick Huron and Joey Brown.  Graduate students also led an evening night hike to look for...

Joey Brown has recently joined the Siler Lab as a Masters student at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and University of Oklahoma. After growing up flippin’ rocks and chasing snakes throughout Kansas and Missouri, Joey attended the University of Kansas (KU) as an undergraduate student, and transformed his childhood fascination into a passionate pursuit for a career in the...

Cameron is currently teaching a two-week Field Herpetology course at the OU Biological Station on Lake Texoma.  He is joined by graduate TA Nick Huron and undergrad TAs Claire Winfrey and Elyse Ellsworth (all members of the Siler Lab).  The course covers herpetological taxonomy and biology, amphibian infectious diseases, and new research techniques like epithelial microbiome sampling and eDNA water sampling.  Students...