182 Sea Snake Squad

Herpetological Highlights

More evidence of social behaviour in snakes, this time from snakes that live underwater. Then we chat about a new species of alligator-looking lizard.

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Main Paper References:

Somaweera R, Udyawer V, Amarasinghe AAT, De Fresnes J, Catherall J, Molchanova G. 2023. Apparent coordinated and communal hunting behaviours by Erabu sea krait Laticauda semifactiata. Scientific Reports 13:21471. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48684-3.

Species of the Bi-Week:

Clause AG, Luna-Reyes R, Mendoza-Velázquez OM, Nieto-Montes De Oca A, Solano-Zavaleta I. 2024. Bridging the gap: A new species of arboreal Abronia (Squamata: Anguidae) from the Northern Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. PLOS ONE 19:e0295230. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295230.

Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:

Shine, R., Shine, T., Shine, J. M. & Shine, B. G. Synchrony in capture dates suggests cryptic social organization in sea snakes (Emy docephalus annulatus, Hydrophiidae). Austral Ecol. 30, 805–811 (2005).

Editing and Music:

Podcast edited by Emmy – https://www.fiverr.com/emmyk10

Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson

Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy

Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com