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
Dr. Claudia Koch
- Curator Herpetology
- Radiation Protection Officer
- Head of Animal Husbandry
Phone: +49 228 9122 234
E-Mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.de
Contact person
PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
- Head of Section Herpetology
Phone: +49 228 9122 252
E-Mail: d.roedder@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
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2025/12
Speciation and historical invasions of the Asian black-spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)
Nature communications, 1, 16
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
2025/1
Toxicity of the Herbicide Roundup Original DI® in Tadpoles of Physalaemus erikae and Physalaemus cicada (Anura: Leptodactylidae)
Toxics, 1, 13
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
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
2024/12
A second look on the identity of Chamaeleon johnstoni affinis Sternfeld, 1912 (Squamata, Chamaeleonidae)
Spixiana, 1, 47
2024/12
Gaps in the protection of the amphibians of Myanmar—threat status, endemism, protected area coverage and One Plan Approach conservation
Integrative Conservation, 4, 3
2024/12
Parthenogenetic Reproduction in the Ocelot Gecko, Paroedura picta (Peters, 1854) (Squamata: Gekkonidae)
Russian Journal of Herpetology, 6, 31
2024/11
Conservation priorities for threatened mammals of Vietnam: Implementation of the IUCN´s One Plan Approach
Nature Conservation, 56
2024/11
Uncovering the rich amphibian fauna of two semideciduous forest fragments in southwestern Bahia, Brazil
ZooKeys, 1217
2024/11
Observation of a bifurcated tail in an adult arboreal skink, Epibator nigrofasciolatus (Peters, 1869), the first published case for the genus and for New Caledonia
Herpetology Notes, 17
2024/11
A twinning tail: first report of a tail duplication in the Keeled Sri Lankan Mabuya, Eutropis lankae (Deraniyagala, 1953)
Herpetology Notes, 17
2024/11
Getting back to name-bearing types: archival DNA and morphology clarify the identity of Hyla splendens Schmidt, 1857 and challenge the taxonomy of Bolivian populations of Gastrotheca (Anura: Hemiphractidae)
Salamandra, 4, 60
2024/11
Predicting the Potential Distribution of a Rodent Pest, Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), Associated with Changes in Climate and Land Cover in South Korea
Ecology and Evolution, 11, 14
2024/11
Sensitivity of larval Dendropsophus haddadi (Bastos and Pombal 1996), an anuran species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, to acute exposure to nitrate
Ecotoxicology
2024/11
Von Kiel nach Bonn und anderswohin: Auto- und Allobiographisches, mit herpetologischem Fokus
34
2024/11
Conservation perceptions and attitudes regarding monitor lizards in West Bengal, India
Nature Conservation, 56
2024/10
Challenges of regulating commercial use of marine elapid snakes in the Indo‐Pacific
Conservation Biology, 5, 38
2024/10
Vegetation productivity determines the response of butterflies along elevation gradients in the trans-Himalayas, Nepal
Ecosphere, 15, 2024
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. André Koch
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcherPhone: +49 228 9122 405
E-mail: a.koch@leibniz-lib.deDr. 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.deProf. Dr. Mirco Solé
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guestE-mail: m.sole@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)