HERPETOLOGICAL RESEARCH
My passion has always been reptiles and amphibians. I am especially interested in evolutionary biology and systematics. I have participated and collaborated in a number of projects in ecology and thermal physiology but I currently spend my time between two main projects below.
I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Keogh Lab at the Australian National University, but I will start working as a Lecturer at the University of Wollongong. Write me if you are interested in joining my lab!
I am an Editor in Chief and founder member of the herpetological naturalist journal Boletín Chileno de Herpetología.
I am an Associate Editor of of the Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Chile.
See my articles and citations in my Google Scholar Profile.
I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Keogh Lab at the Australian National University, but I will start working as a Lecturer at the University of Wollongong. Write me if you are interested in joining my lab!
I am an Editor in Chief and founder member of the herpetological naturalist journal Boletín Chileno de Herpetología.
I am an Associate Editor of of the Boletín del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Chile.
See my articles and citations in my Google Scholar Profile.
Evolution of Ecomorphology in Pythons and Boas
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How natural selection (adaptation), evolutionary history (phylogenetics) and size (allometry) contribute to morphological diversity is one of my main interests in biology. Pythons, and as shown by my previous research, the convegrent lineage of boas, are perfect systems to ask this sort of questions. They are ecologically and morphologically very diverse and range from dwarf species than can fit in one's hand to the largest snakes on the planet. My current research looks at the adaptive, allometric and phylogenetic effects on the evolution of phenotypic diversity in pythons. I am also working on resolving the phylogenetic relationships of the family. Finally, I am doing phylogeography, systematics and species delimitation in several genera of pythons, mostly from Australia and New Guinea.
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Systematics and Taxonomy of Andean Liolaemus lizards
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Liolaemus is a genus of iguanid lizards with the second highest number of species among amniotes (reptiles, birds and mammals). They are widely distributed through the southern regions of South America, but their diversity is especially high in the Andes between Chile and Argentina, probably caused by allopatric speciation driven by the fast and violent uplift of the Andes. For some years now I have been studying the taxonomy and systematics using traditional methods and molecular phylogenetics of a clade of Liolaemus known as the elongatus-kriegi complex, describing several species. Now I have moved to exploring macroevolutionary patterns using modern phylogenetic methods for the whole group, mostly focused on understanding the role of the Andes uplift in their diversity.
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Media Coverage
I appeared as a guest on "Dino Exploradores", a Latin American Science documentary series for kids about palaeontology and evolution on an episode about the Great American Exchange. Watch here.
My paper on the effect if the Andes in Liolaemidae lizard evolution, particularly the potential break of Dollo's law with lizards re-evolving viviparity got a lot of media attention, including among others IFLScience (Link); ABC News (Link); The Canberra Times (Link); La Tercera (Link); El Mercurio (Link); Endémico (Link); Evolution Society Highlights (Link); ANU Science (Link); Live Science (Link); Sputnik (Link); El Periodico (Link); Efe Verde (Link); SciMex (Link); The ANU Reporter (Link); The Herald Sun; Sydney Morning Herald; Daily Telegraph; Adelaide Advertiser; Courier Mail; Gold Coast Bulletin; TalkRadio Interview with Paul Ross in the UK, 2CC Radio Interview. I also wrote a blog for Nature Research (Link). Additionally, poet Joel O'Connor wrote a poem about Liolaemus inspired by this research! Check it out here.
My paper on convergent evolution had some media attention: I Fucking Love Science (Link); Science Update radio interview, broadcoasted by different stations across the USA (Link); La Tercera (Link); Cosmos Magazine (Link); Anole Annals (Link); EurakAlert!, (Link); ANU website (Link); Science Daily (Link); Phys.org (Link); MyScience (Link); Alpha Galileo (Link); SciMex, (Link); Headline News (Link); Uncommon Descent (Link); Asian Scientist (Link); Der Standard (Link); Before It's News (Link); Swahili (Link); SciFeeds (Link).
Check put this video on a grant proposal to study pythons and boas.
The description of Liolaemus ubaghsi was covered with special reports on two major and one local newspapers in Chile: El Mercurio (Link. PDF); Las Últimas Noticias (Link. PDF); El Rancagüino (Link. PDF)
The description of Phymaturus aguedae was covered on a Brazilian science communications site: Com Ciēncia (Link. PDF)
The description of Liolaemus scorialis and Liolaemus zabalai had a lot of media attention, including an appearance on National TV and several newspapers and media sites from America and Europe: Canal 13 National TV station and website (Link. PDF); La Tercera (Link, PDF); Discovery (Link, PDF); ABC España (Link. PDF); Emol (Link, PDF); Ansa.it (Link. PDF); Portal del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente de Chile (Link. PDF); Sci-News (Link. PDF); Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Católica de Chile (Link); Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile (Link, PDF); Reptiles Magazine (Link. PDF); Boletín RECH (Link, PDF); Phys.org (Link. PDF); EurekAlert! (Link. PDF); Revista Fósil (Link, PDF); DNA-Barcoding blog (Link. PDF)
Interviewed by Revista El Sabado from El Mercurio, on the scholarships in Chile and having to return after your studies. PDF.
Radio interview on Radio Kayros' program "Cajon Abierto" from Cajon del Maipo in Chile, talking about local reptiles and their conservation and the evolution of Blues and Metal Link
My paper on the effect if the Andes in Liolaemidae lizard evolution, particularly the potential break of Dollo's law with lizards re-evolving viviparity got a lot of media attention, including among others IFLScience (Link); ABC News (Link); The Canberra Times (Link); La Tercera (Link); El Mercurio (Link); Endémico (Link); Evolution Society Highlights (Link); ANU Science (Link); Live Science (Link); Sputnik (Link); El Periodico (Link); Efe Verde (Link); SciMex (Link); The ANU Reporter (Link); The Herald Sun; Sydney Morning Herald; Daily Telegraph; Adelaide Advertiser; Courier Mail; Gold Coast Bulletin; TalkRadio Interview with Paul Ross in the UK, 2CC Radio Interview. I also wrote a blog for Nature Research (Link). Additionally, poet Joel O'Connor wrote a poem about Liolaemus inspired by this research! Check it out here.
My paper on convergent evolution had some media attention: I Fucking Love Science (Link); Science Update radio interview, broadcoasted by different stations across the USA (Link); La Tercera (Link); Cosmos Magazine (Link); Anole Annals (Link); EurakAlert!, (Link); ANU website (Link); Science Daily (Link); Phys.org (Link); MyScience (Link); Alpha Galileo (Link); SciMex, (Link); Headline News (Link); Uncommon Descent (Link); Asian Scientist (Link); Der Standard (Link); Before It's News (Link); Swahili (Link); SciFeeds (Link).
Check put this video on a grant proposal to study pythons and boas.
The description of Liolaemus ubaghsi was covered with special reports on two major and one local newspapers in Chile: El Mercurio (Link. PDF); Las Últimas Noticias (Link. PDF); El Rancagüino (Link. PDF)
The description of Phymaturus aguedae was covered on a Brazilian science communications site: Com Ciēncia (Link. PDF)
The description of Liolaemus scorialis and Liolaemus zabalai had a lot of media attention, including an appearance on National TV and several newspapers and media sites from America and Europe: Canal 13 National TV station and website (Link. PDF); La Tercera (Link, PDF); Discovery (Link, PDF); ABC España (Link. PDF); Emol (Link, PDF); Ansa.it (Link. PDF); Portal del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente de Chile (Link. PDF); Sci-News (Link. PDF); Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Católica de Chile (Link); Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile (Link, PDF); Reptiles Magazine (Link. PDF); Boletín RECH (Link, PDF); Phys.org (Link. PDF); EurekAlert! (Link. PDF); Revista Fósil (Link, PDF); DNA-Barcoding blog (Link. PDF)
Interviewed by Revista El Sabado from El Mercurio, on the scholarships in Chile and having to return after your studies. PDF.
Radio interview on Radio Kayros' program "Cajon Abierto" from Cajon del Maipo in Chile, talking about local reptiles and their conservation and the evolution of Blues and Metal Link