Current / Past Research / Research By Category

Publications 09.12.10

We review the taxonomic status of Philippine bent-toed geckos previously referred to Cyrtodactylus agusanensis. We delineate four evolutionary lineages within the C. agusanensis complex from the southeastern islands of the archipelago and describe three of these lineages as new species. The new species and true C. agusanensis are identified by numerous, nonoverlapping morphological characters and by allopatric ranges on separate islands. Our...


Publications 09.12.10

We describe a new species of terrestrial limestone forest frog of the genus Platymantis from Biak Na Bato National Park in central Luzon Island, Philippines. Platymantis biak is assigned to the primarily arboreal Platymantis guentheri Species Group, and is distinguished from these and other congeners by features of its external morphology and preferred terrestrial limestone microhabitat. Several distinguishing morphological characters include a...


Publications 09.12.10

A new limbless species of scincid lizard of the genus Brachymeles is described from Mt. Labo, Bicol Peninsula, Luzon Island, Philippines. The species was encountered only on this isolated volcanic peak and is conspicuously absent from surrounding, well-surveyed regions of the Bicol Peninsula. The new species is the fourth known limbless species of Brachymeles and the third to be discovered in the...


Publications 09.12.10

We describe a new species of gekkonid lizard, Gekko carusadensis, from low elevation, disturbed and secondary-growth forest in east-central Luzon Island, Philippines. Numerous features of its external morphology distinguish it from other congeners, including the presence of a distinct color pattern, body size, and a unique combination of scale counts. The new species has been found on karst outcrops and cave systems...


Publications 01.17.10

We use data from external morphology and mitochondrial gene sequences to provide the basis for a taxonomic revision of two polytypic, pentadactyl Philippine species of scincid lizards of the genus Brachymeles. Although previous studies have noted significant morphological variation among island populations, the similarities in body size and scale pigmentation and pattern have led to the continued recognition of these two ‘‘widespread...


Publications 09.12.09

We describe a new species of gekkonid lizard from Palawan Island, southwestern Philippines. The new species differs from all Philippine Cyrtodactylus and all other phenotypically similar Southeast Asian Cyrtodactylus by characteristics of external morphology, color pattern, and body size. The new species is common in low- to mid-elevation primary growth forest and disturbed lowland riparian gallery forests along the southeast coastal foothills...


Publications 09.12.09

A new species of forest frog of the genus Platymantis is described from an elevation of 140 m in the Taft Forest Reserve in eastern Samar Island, Philippines. It is assigned to the Platymantis guentheri Species Group, a group of primarily arboreal species, and is distinguished from these and other congeners by features of its external morphology and its preferred terrestrial, limestone...


Publications 09.12.09

We describe a new species of scincid lizard of the genus Brachymeles from montane forests (1400–1450 m) of Mt. Palali, Caraballo Mountain Range, in central Luzon Island, Philippines. The new species is the second known species of Brachymeles that has only three digits on both the forelimb and hindlimbs. Additional morphological characters include unique scale pigmentation and absence of a pineal eyespot...


Publications 09.12.09

A new species of fanged frog (genus Limnonectes) is described from Davao Del Norte Province, eastern Mindanao Island, Philippines. The new species can be diagnosed on the basis of external morphology, with notable diagnostic features being its moderately large size (79.6 and 84.3 mm SVL for two males and 69.3 mm SVL for the single available female specimen), the possession of white-tipped...


Publications 09.12.09

We review the Philippine frogs of the genus Leptobrachuim. All previous treatments have referred Philippine populations to L. hasseltii, a species we restrict to Java and Bali, Indonesia. We use external morphology, body proportions, color pattern, advertisement calls, and phylogenetic analysis of molecular sequence data to show that Philippine populations of Leptobrachium represent three distinct and formerly unrecognized evolutionary lineages, and we...


Publications 09.12.09

We use mitochondrial gene sequences to estimate relationships among Gekko populations from the northern Philippines. These data, plus morphological and biogeographical evidence, suggest that the Babuyan and Batanes island groups (north of Luzon Island) are inhabited by a minimum of six distinct evolutionary lineages, only two of which (Gekko porosus Taylor from the Batanes and Gekko crombota from Babuyan Claro) have been...