Amphibians & Reptiles
The Herpetology Section specialises in amphibians and reptiles from all over the world, but mainly from Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East and South-East Asia.
Research focuses on taxonomy, diversity, auto-/synoecology, macro-ecology, species conservation, biogeography, species distribution modelling, evolution and phylogenetics.
The constantly growing scientific collection, which currently comprises > 110,000 specimens, is curated by PD Dr Dennis Rödder and Dr Claudia Koch.
Both curators are involved in university teaching and offer seminars, block modules, and excursions for the BSc Biology and OEP MSc degree programmes at the University of Bonn. Final theses (Bachelor/Master) and PhD theses are also supervised.
Innovative methods in morphology, taxonomy, and systematics
Every year, several hundred new amphibian and reptile species are described worldwide. The LIB makes an important contribution to this; since its foundation, type material of more than 700 taxa has been deposited in our section, including over 350 primary types (i.e. holo-, lecto-, and neotypes) and almost 100 syntypes. To identify new species, we use state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques (genetics, genomics, phylogenetics) as well as computer-aided imaging techniques such as µCT-based 3D reconstructions.
Computer-aided analyses in biogeography, evolutionary ecology, and conservation research
We investigate the effects of climate and land-use changes on different time scales, from currently observable distribution shifts and rather short-term distribution dynamics of (invasive) species (several years to decades) to evolutionary adaptations during speciation (several million years). Amphibians and reptiles are particularly suitable for this purpose, as they are highly dependent on environmental factors. Special attention has always been paid to the search for causal ecological mechanisms that determine distribution and abundance patterns in relation to environmental factors. We use the knowledge gained to make forecasts for the future and to become involved in international nature conservation.
Teaching programmes
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Supervision of project work and theses
OEP-A23 Advanced Bioinformatics in Phylogenetics, Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity research:
Introduction to Scientific Programming in R (seminar/exercise)
Introduction to GIS / species distribution modelling (seminar/exercise)
OEP-B30 Advanced Course in Combining Field and Lab Techniques and Methods in Organismic Biology, Evolutionary Biology or Paleobiology
OEP-C02 / WBIO-F-02: Zoogeography and ecology of marine organisms in tropical habitats (with an excursion to the Red Sea, Dahab/Egypt) (Seminar/Excursion)
OEP-C07 Biodiversity of the Tropics, with a Field Trip to Ecuador (Seminar/Excursion)
OEP-B16 Evolution, and Biodiversity of Lower Vertebrates (block course)
OEP-B19 Patterns and Processes Shaping Biodiversity (Seminar)
WBIO-E-01 Free practical courses for BSc Biology
Related collections
Contact person
/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/20241203_MKB_Portraits_LowRes_KochClaudia_MGeiger_IMG_5368.jpg%3F1739272430)
- Curator Herpetology
- Radiation Protection Officer
- Head of Animal Husbandry
Phone: +49 228 9122 234
E-Mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.de
Projects
Evolution of the gecko's adhesive toes
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Provenance research at the Museum Koenig
Management: Dr. André Koch
Publications
| of
2025/4
Differential vulnerability of key threatened mammals to climate and land cover changes in the Central Himalayas
Ecosphere, 4, 16
2025/3
Nutzen Würfelnattern, Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768), ihre Zungen zu aggressiver Anlockmimikry? Do dice snakes, Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768), use their tongues for aggressive lingual luring?
SAURIA – Zeitschrift für Terraristik & Herpetologie, 1, 47
2025/3
Soft anatomy and morphological variation in Daptomys peruviensis (Rodentia, Cricetidae), a rare ichthyomyine from the northwestern Amazonian forests
PeerJ, 13
2025/3
First record of Trimerodytes praemaxillaris (Angel, 1929) from Xaisomboun Province, Laos, with additional comments on morphology, natural history, and the type locality
Herpetology Notes, 18
2025/3
Amphibians and Reptiles Exhibit Different Ecological and Evolutionary Spatial Patterns in the Amazon Basin
Ecology and Evolution, 3, 15
2025/3
Beyond the ordinary: Thanatosis during shedding in Daboia russelii (Shaw and Nodder 1797) and a predator-prey interaction of Fowlea piscator (Schneider 1799), Hoplobatrachus tigerinus (Daudin 1803), and Lissemys punctata (Lacépède 1788) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Reptiles&Amphibians, 1, 32
2025/3
Zwei rumänische Herpetologen, die signifikant auch auf Deutsch publiziert haben: Ion Eduard Fuhn (1916 – 1987) und Bogdan Stugren (1928 – 1993)
Sekretär, 1, 25
2025/3
Ergänzende Notizen und Ikonographie zum ehemaligen Reptilienzoo „Vivarium Königswinter“ am Drachenfels bei Bonn
Sekretär, 1, 25
2025/3
Kletten als tödliche Falle für juvenile Laubfrösche
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 22
2025/3
Ungewöhnliche Schuppen-Fehlbildung bei einer Schlingnatter
Feldherpetologisches Magazin, 22
2025/3
Snakebite in Nicoadala District, central Mozambique: a first assessment based on hospital records
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 3, 119
2025/2
Distinct management units for the Critically Endangered angelshark (Squatina squatina) revealed in the Canary Islands
Conservation Genetics, 26
2025/2
Ichthyosaura as a generic nomen for the Alpine Newt (Caudata: Salamandridae): a doubtful case of literarian archeology
Salamandra, 1, 61
2025/2
Rediscovery of a rare and endangered Apostolepis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae): reassessing species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships using integrative approaches
Salamandra, 1, 61
2025/2
Biogeographic Patterns of Iranian Lepidoptera: A Framework for Conservation
Diversity and Distributions
2025/2
Systematics of the Little Red Tree Frog, Litoria rubella (Anura: Pelodryadidae), with the description of two new species from eastern Australia and arid Western Australia
Zootaxa, 2, 5594
2025/1
Toxicity of the Herbicide Roundup Original DI® in Tadpoles of Physalaemus erikae and Physalaemus cicada (Anura: Leptodactylidae)
Toxics, 1, 13
2025/1
Speciation and historical invasions of the Asian black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)
Nature communications, 1, 16
2025/1
Rampant Dispersal Without Gene‐Flow: Reproductively and Geographically Isolated Lineages of the Supertramp Lizard Permeate the Lesser Sunda Archipelago
Journal of Biogeography
2025/1
Amphibians of Yemen
11
2025/1
Unsuccessful predation of Ameiva ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758) causes the death of a juvenile snake, Oxyrhopus trigeminus Duméril et al., 1854, in Bahia, northeastern Brazil
Herpetology Notes, 18
2024/12
When a name changes everything: taxonomy and conservation of the Atlantic bushmaster ( Lachesis Daudin, 1803) (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae)
Systematics and biodiversity, 1, 22
2024/12
Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the dwarf boas of the family Tropidophiidae (Serpentes: Alethinophidia)
Systematics and biodiversity, 1, 22
2024/12
A reptile dysfunction: tail bifurcation in the Costa Rican Tropical Night Lizard, Lepidophyma reticulatum Taylor, 1955, a first for the family Xantusiidae
Herpetology Notes, 17
2024/12
From sand to rocks: divergent diets in two populations of Pleurodema diplolister (Anura Leptodactylidae) in the semi-arid region of Bahia, Brazil
Ethology Ecology & Evolution
2025
2024
Employees
Suraj Baral
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidateE-mail: s.baral@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Böhme
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guestPhone: +49 228 9122 250
E-mail: w.boehme@leibniz-lib.deMichele Chiacchio
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidateE-mail: m.chiacchio@leibniz-lib.de
Dipl. Biol. Morris Flecks
ztm Herpetology BonnPhone: +49 228 9122 254
E-mail: m.flecks@leibniz-lib.deDr. Rafaela França
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcherPhone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: r.franca@leibniz-lib.deDipl. Biol. Timo Hartmann
ztm Herpetology Bonn Animal keeperPhone: +49 228 9122 274
E-mail: t.hartmann@leibniz-lib.deDr. Sylvia Hofmann
ztm Herpetology Bonn ScientistPhone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: s.hofmann@leibniz-lib.deProf. Dr. Hinrich Kaiser
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guestE-mail: h.kaiser@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Claudia Koch
ztm Herpetology Bonn ScientistPhone: +49 228 9122 234
E-mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.dePaul Kornacker
ztm Herpetology Bonn Volunteer employeeE-mail: p.kornacker@leibniz-lib.de
Eva Meyers
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidatePhone: +49 228 9122 245
E-mail: e.meyers@leibniz-lib.deDikansh S. Parmar
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidateE-mail: d.parmar@leibniz-lib.de
Inna Rech
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidatePhone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: i.rech@leibniz-lib.deDr. Jendrian Riedel
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcherE-mail: j.riedel@leibniz-lib.de
PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
ztm Herpetology Bonn ScientistPhone: +49 228 9122 252
E-mail: d.roedder@leibniz-lib.de
MSc candidates
Elán Pérez García
One plan approach conservation strategies
Sydney Nelson
Is the geogaphic location of hybrid zones environmentally dependent in Triturus ssp.?
Anna Rose
Predicting the potential distribution of Laonastes aenigmamus under current and future climate (Univ. Cologne)
Nina J. Wirges
Niche evolution in Hemidactylus: correlative vs. mechanistic approaches
BSc candidates
Marielle Hilmer
Developing conservation strategies for Goniurosaurus in Vietnam
Nils Ostrowski
New strategies for optimizing SDMs - a simulation approach (Univ. Cologne)