Naturalist, traveler, French-Polish herpetologist, interested in biodiversity and the conservation of herpetofauna – especially lizards. Member of the IUCN SSC Monitor Lizard Specialist Group, administrator and co-chair International Commission of the Société Herpétologique de France (SHF), and Director’s Board Member of Reptile Amphibian Conservation Europe (RACE)
Naturalist, traveler, French-Polish herpetologist, interested in biodiversity and the conservation of herpetofauna – especially lizards.
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My expertise covers a wide range of topics related to wildlife conservation: population studies, inventories, field research planning, and monitoring protocols in different biotopes (desert, forest, jungle, and urban areas).
🦎 𝟬𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 (𝘝𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴): 𝗔 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
🔬 A recent study published in Advances in Applied Biological Research investigated the composition and relative abundance of the bacterial community within the oral cavity of the Bengal monitor (𝘝𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) in the Kasur district, Punjab, Pakistan.
📋 Swab samples were collected from 10 wild specimens captured using direct encounter, hand nets, and pitfall traps before and after their annual hibernation period (November to March). Culturing and biochemical testing identified several major bacterial strains present in the oral microflora:
𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘴: Found in 46.67% of the samples.
𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘩𝘪: Present in 43.33% of the samples.
𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢: Detected in 13.33% of the samples.
⚠️ The high prevalence of pathogenic bacteria such as 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘩𝘪 and 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘴 in the saliva highlights potential zoonotic risks associated with bites or direct handling of wild 𝘝𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴. Understanding these microbial baselines is essential for both reptilian veterinary management and human public health protocols in areas of sympatry.
𝕽𝖊𝖋𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊:
Zulfiqar, S., Ali, W., Javid, A., & Hussain, A. (2025). Isolation and Identification of Bacteria from the Oral Cavity of Monitor Lizard (𝘝𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴). Advances in Applied Biological Research, 6(1), 1-11.
#herpetology #varanus #monitorlizard #reptilebacteria #fieldherping #wildliferesearch #zoonosis #varanusbengalensis #microbiology ... See MoreSee Less
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🐸 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐬: 𝐀 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞
🧐 Amphibians possess a remarkable array of passive chemical defense systems, traditionally believed to be deployed only under extreme physical duress or during actual predator attacks. However, documenting how these mechanism function spontaneously in the wild remains a major challenge in field herpetology.
📑 In our newly published paper in Herpetology Notes we present four rare cases from France where toads voluntarily and rapidly exuded defensive toxins from their skin glands immediately upon being uncovered, completely without any mechanical pressure or handling.
This particular publication holds a deeply profound personal meaning for me. It is a posthumous work co-authored with my late dear friend, Jean Muratet, from the Association ECODIV (Avignonet-Lauragais, France). This paper is published in loving memory of Jean, honoring his immense dedication, expertise, and lifelong passion for herpetological research. Bringing this work to light alongside our colleagues is our way of ensuring that his scientific contributions continue to resonate within the community he loved so much.
Observations: The paper compiles distinct field records—including foundational observations made directly, where Bufo spinosus and Epidalea calamita individuals responded to sudden light exposure or shelter removal by instantly coating their dorsal sides and hind limbs in a thick, whitish protective fluid. In one instance, the secretion was intense enough to produce rapid, small squirts of liquid.
This explosive release suggests a voluntary, active counterattack chemical defense mechanism rather than a purely passive reaction. It indicates that spontaneous toxin exudation in European bufonids is likely underreported and underestimated in terms of its evolutionary and ecological frequency.
This work stands as a reminder of the intricate complexities of amphibian behavior and as a permanent tribute to a missed colleague, mentor, and friend.
𝐑e𝐟e𝐫e𝐧𝐜e:
Muratet, J., Berroneau, M., Miaud, C., Eggert, C., Zdunek, P., Bernard, F., & Deso, G. (2026). Spontaneous exudation of skin toxin in the Spiny Toad, Bufo spinosus Daudin, 1803, and the Natterjack Toad, Epidalea calamita (Laurenti, 1768). Herpetology Notes, 19: 431-434.
#Herpetology #AmphibianEcology #ToadResearch #BufoSpinosus #EpidaleaCalamita #FieldBiology #InMemoriam #JeanMuratet #ScientificPublication Matthieu Berroneau @ahpam asso @Grégory Maurice Deso ... See MoreSee Less
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🦎 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬: 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐲?
🧐 Cannibalism—the act of consuming all or part of a conspecific—is a widespread behavior across the animal kingdom that significantly shapes population ecology and evolutionary trajectories. In reptiles, the evolutionary benefits of intraspecific predation include immediate nutrient intake, the elimination of potential resource or reproductive competitors, and territory control. Yet, in the case of the Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca), documenting this phenomenon directly in nature has proven to be a significant challenge for field herpetologists.
While historical dietary studies based on faecal and stomach content analysis in countries like Spain and Belarus detected juvenile remains, these indirect methods cannot determine whether the prey was already dead or the exact circumstances of the event. Direct field observations have remained incredibly scarce, with only a handful of recent reports detailing attempted or successful cannibalism between adults in Germany, England, France, and Switzerland, or among juveniles in Poland. Prior to our study, the only known instance of an adult preying on a juvenile was documented strictly in a captive environment.
📸 In a new short note published in Herpetology Notes, my co-author Grégoire Meier and I provide the first direct, fully photographed observation in the wild of an adult C. austriaca preying on a juvenile.
🔹 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: On September 11, 2025, in a high-elevation rocky mountain meadow (1,780 m) within the Valle Maggia (Ticino, Switzerland), an adult snake was found swallowing a juvenile head-first. The predator was highly likely a female that had recently given birth, as indicated by a slightly wrinkled posterior body shape. Crucially, during the event, the juvenile snake attempted to resist by coiling its tail around grass stems, which directly dispels the hypothesis that the female was merely consuming stillborn young from her own litter.
🔹 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Why does an adult smooth snake turn to cannibalism?
Physiological Demands: Viviparous female snakes experience a severe energetic depletion post-birth. The urgent physiological need for rapid body mass and lipid recovery can drive opportunistic predation on any available food source, including smaller members of their own species.
Population Density: At the exact observation site, two other heavily gravid females were found within a 10-meter radius. Such high localized population density heavily suggests elevated competition for typical prey, such as lizards, which can induce food shortages and trigger cannibalistic behavior.
Recent literature indicates that cannibalism is not just a random anomaly; it may account for approximately 2.5% of the total diet in specific populations of this reptile specialist. Each documented event helps refine our understanding of the trophic ecology and survival strategies of C. austriaca.
𝐑e𝐟e𝐫e𝐧𝐜e:
Meier, G. & Zdunek, P. (2026). The next missing piece of cannibalism in Coronella austriaca (Laurenti, 1768): a new record of wild predation on a juvenile from Switzerland. Herpetology Notes, 19
#Herpetology #FieldHerpetology #SmoothSnake #CoronellaAustriaca #SnakeEcology #ScientificPublication #ReptileResearch #NaturalHistory ... See MoreSee Less
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🐍 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
💉 In emergency medicine, it is still not uncommon to see corticosteroids being administered after snakebite envenomation, often with the intention of reducing inflammation, swelling, or allergic reactions.
🐍 However, snakebite is not an allergic disease. It is a complex toxicological syndrome caused by a mixture of enzymes and toxins that affect blood coagulation, tissues, nerves, and organs in very specific ways.
🧪 A new synthesis of clinical evidence and field experience confirms that corticosteroids do not neutralize venom and do not improve clinical outcomes in envenomed patients. Instead, their routine use can introduce additional risks.
⚠️ Reported issues include delayed administration of antivenom, masking of clinical progression (such as swelling or necrosis), increased risk of infection, and metabolic side effects like hyperglycemia. (bmj.com)
🔍 Current guidelines are therefore clear: corticosteroids should not be used routinely in snakebite cases, and should be reserved only for specific situations such as confirmed hypersensitivity reactions to antivenom—not for treating the venom itself. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
🌍 This distinction is critical in field medicine, where early decisions can strongly influence outcomes. In many rural or expedition settings, outdated protocols still persist, highlighting the need for continuous medical education and guideline dissemination.
🩺 Effective snakebite management remains centered on rapid assessment, supportive care, and timely administration of species-appropriate antivenom—not anti-inflammatory shortcuts.
👉 Reference and photo credit:
Damien Lecouvey
#snakebite #envenomation #toxicology #FieldMedicine #herpetology #emergencymedicine #Antivenom #wildernessmedicine #wildlife #science #reptiles ... See MoreSee Less
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🦎 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥!
🏙️ Urban environments are rapidly expanding across the globe, creating novel ecological conditions that challenge wildlife in unexpected ways.
🦎 A new study on the Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) reveals that city-dwelling individuals are surprisingly more social than their counterparts living in natural habitats.
🧐 Using social network analyses, researchers compared urban and non-urban populations and found that urban lizards formed more social connections, maintained stronger associations, and interacted with a greater number of individuals overall. These differences were not explained by population density alone.
🔍 The authors suggest that urban structures, restricted movement opportunities, and patchily distributed resources may increase encounters among lizards and promote greater social tolerance. Such behavioural shifts could help explain why some reptile species thrive in cities despite the challenges of urban life.
🌍 These findings challenge the traditional view of territorial lizards as largely solitary animals and highlight how urbanization can reshape animal behaviour in unexpected ways. Understanding these adaptations is essential as cities continue to expand worldwide.
👉 Reference:
Maune, A.L., Wittenbreder, T., Lisičić, D., Caspers, B.A., Camerlenghi, E. & Damas-Moreira, I. (2025). City lizards are more social. Biology Letters, 21(9). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2025.0326
#Herpetology #Lizards #PodarcisMuralis #UrbanEcology #UrbanWildlife #Reptiles #AnimalBehaviour #SocialBehaviour #Ecology #Biodiversity #Science #Research ... See MoreSee Less
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🐢 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫?
🧐 Turtles are famous for their exceptional longevity, with some species living well over a century. They also exhibit an extraordinary range of body sizes, from small freshwater species to giant tortoises weighing hundreds of kilograms.
🐢 According to evolutionary theory, large and long-lived animals should face an increased risk of cancer due to their greater number of cells and longer lifespans. Surprisingly, turtles appear to be remarkably resistant to the disease.
🔬 A new review synthesizing data from zoo records, pathology reports, and comparative oncology studies confirms that cancer is exceptionally rare in turtles compared with many other vertebrate groups.
🔍 Emerging molecular evidence suggests that turtles possess enhanced resistance to oxidative stress and cellular damage, mechanisms that may help suppress tumor development while also contributing to their extraordinary longevity.
🌍 Understanding how turtles naturally resist cancer could provide valuable insights not only for reptile biology and conservation but also for biomedical research aimed at uncovering new mechanisms of tumor suppression and healthy aging.
👉 Reference:
Glaberman, S., Bulls, S.E., Platner, L., Wagner, P., Dreyer, S., McCain, S., Burgstaller, S., Davis, L.R., Turner, H., Bruins-van Sonsbeek, L.G.R., Fischer, D. & Chiari, Y. (2025). Do turtles get cancer? BioScience, 75(9): 699–705. DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaf100.
#Herpetology #Turtles #Tortoises #CancerResearch #ComparativeOncology #Longevity #Aging #Chelonians #Reptiles #Wildlife #Biodiversity #Science ... See MoreSee Less
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