Supervision & Teaching

J. Lenin Lara Galván (University of Florence)

Biodiversity of the endemic Malagasy chameleons of the genus Calumma: distribution patterns and ethnobiological knowledge

Jesús Lenin Lara-Galván is a Mexican biologist. He has a keen interest in the herpetofauna of Mexico’s semi-arid regions. His passion focuses particularly on the venomous reptiles of north-central Mexico, mainly rattlesnakes of the genus Crotalus, as well as coral snakes (Micrurus distans and Micruroides euryxanthus) and the Mexican scorpion (Heloderma horridum). His area of interest centres on the description and mapping of the distribution patterns of amphibians and reptiles in this region, as well as the epidemiological and ethnobiological characterisation of rattlesnakes in Zacatecas, Mexico. He has a great passion for fieldwork and is currently in his first year of a PhD in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology at the University of Florence, where his main research focus is on the endemic and iconic chameleons of Madagascar of the genus Calumma.

Xavier Porcel (University of Porto)

Impact of the invasive Duttaphrynus melanostictus on Malagasy fauna

"I am from Reunion Island, where I pursued all my academic career. I have always been deeply passionate about the herpetofauna of Madagascar, which is why I naturally decided to dedicate myself to their study. Madagascar is facing a number of threats that are having a major impact on its rich biodiversity, which is almost unrivalled in terms of endemism. Over the last ten years, an invasive species, the Toxic Asian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), has arrived in Toamasina, the island's largest port city on Madagascar's eastern coast. This species, invasive in other parts of the world, could cause an ecological disaster in Madagascar if its spread and impact are not controlled. This is precisely the subject of my PhD. I'm going to quantify the impact of this species on Madagascar's native vertebrate communities."