About Me

My passion for herpetology has developed from a childhood fascination of the natural world. I grew up in Hertfordshire, UK, and despite the countryside being host to many interesting animals, the presence of just three reptile species in the county led me to begin keeping captive reptiles and amphibians. Throughout my teenage years I kept up to 18 species of reptiles and amphibians, both native and exotic. When it came to looking for universities and their respective courses, my interests drew me to Bangor University as it offered a degree in Zoology with Herpetology, led by staff and researchers covering various herpetological topics. Starting the course in 2013 meant re-homing my collection, which was mostly split between friends - however this allowed me to commit to the degree and to travel. 

Postgraduate Research

​A multilocus phylogeny of the cobra clade elapids

Wanting to get some more experience using advanced phylogenetic techniques, I discussed project ideas with Dr Wolfgang Wüster. My interest in venomous snakes led us to examine the current cobra clade elapids, which have been subject to various taxonomic changes since the 1940s. Their both medical and social importance arose concerns of an unstable phylogeny, warranting the need for a comprehensive and thorough up-to-date phylogeny to be produced.
 
The aim for this project is to:

  • Test previous phylogenetic hypotheses using more data and advanced molecular techniques
  • Investigate the evolution of spitting behaviour, hood shape and markings, and attempt to use molecular dating techniques to estimate the divergence dates of the spitting lineages.
 
The multilocus analysis will comprise of 7 loci: 2 mitochondrial and 5 nuclear; cytb, ND4, NT3, UBN, PRLR, C-mos, and RAG1, respectively.  The inclusion of more species and samples from a broader range should allow for a more accurate phylogeny to be produced, on which we aim to map any characteristic morphological or behavioural traits on. Further comparison to Australasian and closely related African elapids will allow for us to estimate the divergence dates of any major cladogenic events, particularly of the spitting lineages.

Undergraduate research
One particular aspect I found enjoyable whilst studying for my undergraduate degree at Bangor was the freedom the students had to base their assignments on taxa of their choice. Examples for which I often strived to use reptiles of amphibians:
  • The invasive potential and spatial ecology of the non-native Aesculapian snake in the UK - Students had to describe a field-based wildlife study testing  conservation methods or problems; for the module Wildlife Ecology and Conservation.
  •  Adaptive radiation: speciation, ecological opportunity and adaption of venomous snakes (Elapidae) in Australasia - A literature review covering an aspect of systematics and adaptive radiation was an assessment for the module Systematics and Diversity.
  • An assessment of the conservation status and phylogeography of the endangered Milos viper, Macrovipera schweizeri, using a combination of genetic and ecological data - Students had to design a molecular ecology study for the module Molecular Ecology and Evolution.
  • Climate change: the possible ecological and reproductive consequences to tropical and temperate reptiles - A review essay on the trends and effects of climate change for the module Animal Survival Strategies. 

 I found modules based on molecular techniques (i.e. molecular ecology and evolution) during my undergraduate degree interesting, so wanted to combine fieldwork with a molecular-based project for my honours dissertation. Having identified an atypical population of grass snakes (Natrix natrix) in England, I ended up undertaking a phylogenetic study on several atypical populations, titled: The origin of putative non-native grass snake (Natrix natrix) populations in the UK for which multiple origins from across eastern Europe for various populations in the UK were identified. 

Positions held

2015 – present: Website and Communications officer, The British Herpetological Society
2012 – present: Website officer, Hertfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Group
2015 – 2016: Chairman, North West Wales Amphibian and Reptile Group
2014 – 2016: Chairman, Bangor University Herpetological Society
2014 – 2015: Treasurer, North West Wales Amphibian and Reptile Group
2014 – 2015: Council member, The British Herpetological Society

Herpetological expeditions

2017 (Planned)
  • Thrace, Greece (organiser): 7 days with 4 participants
  • Iberian peninsula (organiser): 10 days with 8 participants
2016
  • Corfu, Greece (organiser): 7 days with 15 participants
  • Tamil Nadu & Mizoram, India: 18 days undertaking research
2015 
  • Morocco: 5 days herping and photography
  • Antalya, Turkey (organiser): 7 days with 8 participants
2014 
  • Arizona, USA: 10 days fieldwork with Bangor University
  • Corfu, Greece (organiser): 7 days with 4 participants