Herpetology (the study of frogs and reptiles) is a rapidly growing area of research which has had a long history within Australia. This special issue of the Journal commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Australian Society of Herpetologists, and contains a selection of papers on diverse herpetological projects.
Image courtesy of the Australian Society of Herpetologists.

The ongoing accumulation of genetically divergent lineages that remain of uncertain taxonomic status and evolutionary significance is a major issue in evolutionary biology and conservation. Improved frameworks to systematically capture taxonomically unrecognised lineage diversity, increasing dissemination of biodiversity metadata, and emerging genomic technologies provide new opportunities to address this issue.
Photo by Paul Oliver.

The Australian Society of Herpetologists was founded in 1964 as Australian herpetology changed through the spread of university-based herpetological workers and students, together with a new generation of museum scientists. Over half a century, it has grown with and nurtured herpetological research in Australia.

To help understand how future climates might impact the critically endangered western swamp turtle (Pseudemydura umbrina), we produced a thermal response curve for the species by measuring standard metabolic rates. Our curve predicts a decline in performance beyond approximately 30°C, which is consistent with observations in the field and laboratory.
Photo by Gerald Kuchling.

We investigated levels of multiple paternity in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from three rookeries in Western Australia. We found highly variable rates unrelated to female population size (25% at Bungelup Beach, 86% at Gnaraloo Bay and 36% at Dirk Hartog Island).
Photo by Kasey Darts.

The biology and life-history traits of the vulnerable western sawshelled turtle, Myuchelys bellii, are presented for the first time. The long-term study (2002–2010) revealed delayed age at first breeding (males: 10 years, females: 20 years), low reproductive effort (14.3 eggs per female) and high survivorship (lifespan of over 40 years). Current threats and management actions are discussed.
Photo by Robert Ashdown.

Slater’s skinks (Liopholis slateri), observed over a 7-month period, exhibited predominantly ambush predation. Juveniles foraged more frequently and further from burrows than adults. Ants were the most common prey item and juveniles targeted small ants more often than adults, moving further to capture these prey.
Photo by Megan McKinney.

Invertebrates can be important predators of amphibian eggs and tadpoles, but have been less well-studied than vertebrate predators. To determine the rate of consumption, common invertebrate predators (identified through field site surveys) were offered frog eggs and tadpoles in feeding trials. Freshwater crayfish and notonectids were identified as significant predators.
Photo by Natasha J. Wilson.

Male lizards usually play an important role in mating behaviour. We discovered that female Australian pygmy bluetongue lizards (Tiliqua adelaidensis) moved around burrows when fewer male lizards visited them during the breeding season. We confirm that there are two mating strategies – selective and opportunistic – for this species as previously reported.
Photo by Aaron Fenner.

We conducted the first detailed investigation of the invasive delicate skink (Lampropholis delicata) on Lord Howe Island (LHI), and examined its potential impact on the native biota. We conclude that, based on its distribution and abundance, the delicate skink has the potential to impact the diverse endemic invertebrate fauna on LHI.
Photo by Nick Clemann.

Non-invasive genetic sampling using scats has a well established role in conservation biology, but has rarely been applied to reptiles. We evaluated various storage and DNA-extraction methods and identified a reliable method of deriving genotypes and sequences from gidgee skink, Egernia stokesii, scats. Results highlight the opportunity for using scat-derived DNA in lizard studies, particularly for species that deposit scats in piles.
Photo by Dale Burzacott.

We developed 48 anonymous nuclear loci from the Australian skink, Tiliqua rugosa. These loci amplified across three lineages of T. rugosa (47 loci), in T. adelaidensis (37 loci) and in Egernia stokesii (34 loci). The loci showed variability within T. rugosa (22 loci) and among the three species (27 loci).
Photo by Mike Gardner.