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Open research questions in Amphibian and Reptile Biology

45 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 596 Amphibian and Reptile Biology papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • , 2021), underscoring the importance of further investigation into whether these insects carry pathogens and pose potential risks of disease transmission among amphibians.

    A Preliminary Study on Amphibian-Feeding Behavior of Hematophagous Diptera (Psychodidae, Culicidae, and Corethrellidae) in Taiwan Based on Citizen Science Data · 2026 · DOI

  • (2023) Limestone jewel: A new colourful karst-dwelling pitviper (Serpentes: Viperidae: Trimeresurus) from the poorly explored borderlands of southern Peninsular Thailand.

    On the synonymy of Trimeresurus liqibini Liang, Ding, Wu, Yang & Chen, 2026 with Trimeresurus loong Xu, Deng, Zhang, Nguyen, Poyarkov, Vogel & Peng, 2025 (Squamata: Viperidae) · 2026 · DOI

  • Abstract Acoustic communication in anurans exhibits considerable plasticity, yet the role of nonlinear phenomena (NLP) and their environmental modulation remain poorly understood.

    Shifts in the Ratio of Nonlinear Phenomena Between Advertisement and Aggressive Calls are Influenced by Temperature in the Free-Toed Frog Eleutherodactylus interorbitalis · 2026 · DOI

  • Mendelson and Campbell (1999) apparently failed to detect differences between C. viruela and C. nephila in their revision of preserved specimens, and their paratypes appear to include both species, suggesting a need for more rigorous morphological re-examination of type material.

    A new treefrog of the genus Charadrahyla (Anura, Hylidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico, with comments on the conservation status and distribution of related species · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the amphibia fauna of Kim Bang SHCA as well as of Ha Nam Province is poorly studied with only nine recorded species of amphibians from this Province so far.

    New records of amphibians for Ha Nam Province, Vietnam · 2025 · DOI

  • However, sympatric zones (SZ) of unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the Caucasus are still poorly studied, although they are very important for understanding the role of hybrid individuals of different origin in reticulate evolution.

    New records and geographic distribution of the sympatric zones of unisexual and bisexual rock lizards of the genus Darevskia in Armenia and adjacent territories · 2020 · DOI

  • The tadpole of poorly studied Leptopelisragazzii (Boulenger, 1896), a high-altitude tree frog species from the Ethiopian highlands, is described for the first time and compared with closely related sympatric species – L.

    Tadpole of Leptopelis ragazzii (Boulenger, 1896), Shoa Forest Tree Frog (Anura, Arthroleptidae) · 2019 · DOI

  • Abstract Demographic data provide a basis for understanding the life history and ecology of species, factors which are vital for informing conservation efforts; however, little is known regarding the population ecology of most snake species, including the threatened Eastern Indigo Snake ( Drymarchon couperi ).

    Survival and population growth of a long‐lived threatened snake species, <i>Drymarchon couperi</i> (Eastern Indigo Snake) · 2011 · DOI

  • Caudal pseudoautotomy, defined as intervertebral tail breakage without regeneration, has been reported in several snake taxa; however, its frequency and association with biological factors remain poorly documented in some arboreal species.

    Frequency of caudal pseudoautotomy in the Neotropical parrot snake Leptophis marginatus (Serpentes, Colubridae) · 2026 · DOI

  • Very little is known about the natural history of H. Apparently similar habitat occurs widely in northern Australia and southern New Guinea, but these regions are scarcely populated and rarely sampled for estuarine sea snakes.

    Resolving taxonomic uncertainty in Australian sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae): Evidence from museum specimens reassigns Australian Hydrophis caerulescens records to Hydrophis donaldi · 2026 · DOI

  • The genera Hydromorphus and Tretanorhinus (Colubridae) comprise uncommon, poorly studied aquatic snakes, largely because of their nocturnal and aquatic habits.

    Morphology, ethology, new records, and ecological niche modeling for Hydromorphus and Tretanorhinus (Squamata, Colubridae) in Panama · 2026 · DOI

  • The diversity of amphibians inhabiting lakes, specifically semi-remote boreal lakes, has been relatively understudied compared to wetlands and temporary waterbodies.

    A field survey of anuran species in two boreal lakes at the Experimental Lakes Area, Ontario, Canada · 2026 · DOI

  • In ectotherms, fever is expressed behaviourally through the selection of warmer microhabitats following infection, yet its magnitude and determinants vary widely across species and environments.

    When cold-bloods heat up: meta-analytical evidence that climatic variability mediates behavioural fever in amphibians and reptiles · 2026 · DOI

  • Despite extensive work on optimal escape theory, few studies have jointly modelled both the decision to flee and the intensity of flight in a phylogenetic comparative framework.

    Predator stimulus and habitat structure jointly shape antipredator behavior in frog species · 2026 · DOI

  • The taxonomic identity and distribution of Pakistan’s Microhyla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has not been confirmed at species level using molecular data; historical records relied on morphology alone and often referred to the now-restricted M.

    An insight into the molecular identity and distribution of Microhyla taraiensis (Anura, Microhylidae) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan · 2026 · DOI

  • A later visit to the area during the rainy season (August) did not produce any individuals in the same streams where they were observed in March, indicating a need for seasonal sampling protocols to better understand population dynamics.

    A new treefrog of the genus Charadrahyla (Anura, Hylidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico, with comments on the conservation status and distribution of related species · 2026 · DOI

  • Comprehensive sampling across multiple genetic loci is often impractical in groups composed of rare and difficult-to-collect species such as Charadrahyla.

    A new treefrog of the genus Charadrahyla (Anura, Hylidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico, with comments on the conservation status and distribution of related species · 2026 · DOI

  • Little nuclear sequence data is currently available for Charadrahyla and Megastomatohyla, limiting comprehensive sampling across multiple loci for species delimitation.

    A new treefrog of the genus Charadrahyla (Anura, Hylidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico, with comments on the conservation status and distribution of related species · 2026 · DOI

  • The Mosor rock lizard, Dinarolacerta mosorensis (Kolombatović, 1886), is an understudied lacertid species.

    New distribution data of the Mosor rock lizard (Dinarolacerta mosorensis): a review of its range and conservation status · 2025 · DOI

  • Our findings help to improve our understanding of reptilian diversity in the archipelago, providing avenues for further research into the potential interactions between archaeological sites and reptile diversity.

    The herpetofauna of Despotiko Island (Cyclades, Greece) · 2025 · DOI

  • Coupled with other water-conserving strategies, such as discontinuous gas exchange to reduce respiratory water loss, this strategy could be crucial for survival in arid environments where water is scarce.

    Water Uptake from Air in a Desert Thread Snake, <i>Myriopholis macrorhyncha</i> · 2024 · DOI

  • The presence of postcloacal buttons, sexually dimorphic postcloacal scales on both sides of the body, is an exclusive trait in the subfamily Tupinambinae and is only poorly documented.

    Sexual dimorphism in postcloacal scales in the northern caiman lizard (Dracaena guianensis) · 2023 · DOI

  • We present new natural history data on abundance and movements (daily and seasonal) during the pre-breeding (March-June) and breeding-post-breeding season (July-September) of two poorly studied frog species of the Himalayas, Nanorana vicina and Allopaa hazarensis .

    New survey data on abundance and movements for two poorly known Asian Spiny Frogs · 2023 · DOI

  • The record also highlights the Beqaa Valley as a promising, but currently insufficiently investigated area for further herpetological research due to its biogeographic connection to the large semi-desert and desert areas of Syria.

    First record of the Diadem Snake, Spalerosophis diadema (Squamata, Colubridae) for Lebanon · 2022 · DOI

  • Data on the occurrence of this amphibian pathogen in northeastern Brazil are scarce, specifically from the Caatinga ecoregion, where there is only one study that reports Bd in the region.

    Worrying News for Brazilian Caatinga: Prevalence of <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> in Amphibians · 2019 · DOI

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45 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 596 Amphibian and Reptile Biology papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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