Dr Fortunate Mafeta Phaka
@dr-mafeta-phaka.bsky.social
Herptile-human interactions researcher. Author of Bilingual Guide to the Frogs of Zululand. Wildlife TV Producer. Multiple awards for inclusive science/herpetology.
Co-authored 3 chapters covering the African context in this highly anticipated book (anticipated by me at least) on the global state of amphibian conservation which will be published 28 October. link.springer.com/book/9783032...
Trends and Challenges in Amphibian Conservation
The book explores trends, challenges, and solutions in amphibian conservation with case studies, innovative tools, and policy insights.
link.springer.com
Understanding both predation and scavenging in cities is crucial as urban sprawl accelerates. Our review highlights key geographical biases and confirms that scavenging remains largely overlooked compared to predation. 🌎 🧪 #mammals #birds @bioeaf.bsky.social www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13...
A celebration of South Africa’s natural and cultural heritage. #HeritageMonth Print ready multilingual frog posters available for free download. figshare.com/articles/pos...
At 86, Sri Lanka’s ‘father of herpetology’ inspires a new conservation generation. news.mongabay.com/short-articl...
At 86, Sri Lanka's 'father of herpetology' inspires a new conservation generation
Anslem de Silva is widely regarded as the father of modern herpetology in Sri Lanka. He has spent more than six decades documenting the island’s rich reptile and amphibian diversity while mentoring ge...
news.mongabay.com
My 📗 is #openaccess thanks to the D2O program of @mitpress.bsky.social: direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon... This initiative for equitable access to scholarship has just opened its new funding cycle: mitpress.mit.edu/the-mit-pres... 🙏 help spread the word & if you represent a library, do consider joining!
We wanna know what you think about animals. Clink on link below and contribute to WASP (WORLD ARCHIVES OF SPECIES PERCEPTION) www.wasp-project.net/survey?fbcli...
WASP project
A survey of human perception for species
wasp-project.net
A Thick-toed Gecko, the more elusive of the 3 gecko species in our backyard made an appearance today. Difficult to elude people when it’s cold outside I guess.
#NewSpecies! New #gecko from #india just climbed in: Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis Treatment: treatment.plazi.org/id/03EE3708-... Publication: doi.org/10.11646/zoo... #Zootaxa #CyrtodactylusRaimonaensis #FAIRdata #taxonomy #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #fauna #herpetology #herps #reptiles
#NewSpecies! New #skink from #china just snuck in: Scincella gigas Treatment: treatment.plazi.org/id/FEAFFE4E-... Publication: doi.org/10.3897/zse.... #ZSEvolution #ScincellaGigas #FAIRdata #OA #taxonomy #biodiversity #nature #conservation #fauna #herpetology #herps #reptiles #squamata #lizards
#NewSpecies New #diamond #frog from #madagascar just jumped in: Rhombophryne anatiala Treatment: treatment.plazi.org/id/2791B92F-... Publication: doi.org/10.3897/vz.7... #VertebrateZoology #RhombophryneAnatiala #FAIRdata #taxonomy #biodiversity #nature #animals #fauna #herps #amphibia #frogfriday
“It’s not just you. Frogs also get overwhelmed when confronted with too many options — and sometimes, they make bad decisions.” #scicomm #bioacoustics www.sciencenews.org/article/choi... 🧪 🐸
Too many choices complicate female frogs’ sex lives
In the lab, female frogs were less likely to choose preferred males as mating calls increased, potentially giving other males a better shot.
sciencenews.org
🦎*Please share!*🦎 The Swierk Lab is recruiting 1-2 PhD students for Fall 27 / Spr 28 to study Neotropical anole 1) body coloration and visual signals or 2) predator avoidance, diving, and respiration. Please contact only by email. More info and contact details here: drive.google.com/file/d/1TGmC...
Learn how Indigenous knowledge can help shape global biodiversity policy:
Māori voice helping shape global biodiversity policy
Brenda Tahi brings Māori wānanga to IPBES, urging meaningful inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in global biodiversity policy as she co-authors a 2028 report after workshops in Kenya and Thailand.
teaonews.co.nz
#NewSpecies! New #frog from #ecuador just jumped in: Pristimantis milpe Treatment: treatment.plazi.org/id/B0061B8E-... Publication: doi.org/10.3897/zook... #ZooKeys #PristimantisMilpe #FAIRdata #taxonomy #biodiversity #nature #conservation #animals #fauna #herpetology #herps #amphibia #frogfriday
Explain to me why I am nervous when it’s my student presenting their research, yet calm when it’s my turn to talk about frogs in front of peers?
"Drawing on an analysis of over 100000 articles in ecology-related disciplines [...], we show that the shift to pay-to-publish OA has already reduced participation by researchers from many middle-income countries." nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Payment‐based open access is biasing scientific participation from the Global South in ecology
Opening access to the products of scientific research is widely considered a key step toward both fairness and better science worldwide. Since the 1990s, different forms of open access (OA) to journa...
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Every morning this pigeon coup attempt provides evidence for published research. That pigeon is completely unbothered by my presence.
See what consumers have to say about DuckDuckGo's perplexingly analog sunglasses. Head to https://knockaround.com/products/duckduckgo-paso-robles to purchase. #DuckDuckGo #knockaround #sponsored
We wanna know what you think about animals. Clink on link below and contribute to WASP (WORLD ARCHIVES OF SPECIES PERCEPTION) www.wasp-project.net/survey?fbcli...
WASP project
A survey of human perception for species
wasp-project.net
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition. Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
nature.com
A few years ago I was surprised to learn that my childhood favourite dinosaur fossils can be owned privately. Since then I’ve come to learn that my beloved field of Zoology has aspects I really don’t like. theconversation.com/fossils-are-...
Fossils are scientific evidence, and shouldn’t be auctioned for millions to private buyers
Dinosaur fossils are sold for millions to private collectors. These fossils are scientific evidence, and need to be accessible for research and public education.
theconversation.com
Our University Research Fellowships are now open for applications. This scheme provides outstanding early-career scientists with the opportunity to build an independent research careers and pursue cutting edge scientific research. Find out more and apply now: royalsociety.org/grants/unive...
Do you remember the video of the desert rain frog? #rainfrog #Breviceps #SouthAfrica #EndangeredSpecies reptilesmagazine.com/desert-rain-...
Desert Rain Frog Moved To Vulnerable on IUCN Red List - Reptiles Magazine
The desert rain frog is also known as the web-footed rain frog and Boulenger's short-headed frog. They come out after rains to feed.
reptilesmagazine.com
Attending #JMIH in New Orleans? Come see the AmphibiaWeb poster on Saturday! Say hi to Jim McGuire and team members! Share your love and support with AmphibiaWeb's inaugural tshirt campaign: www.customink.com/fundraising/...
This is an actual storyboard for Evil Dead 2. People don't need AI to make beautiful art.
Olivia Hill@machineiv.bsky.social · 3mo agoSam Raimi didn't strap a Super 8 camera to a 2x4 so you could tell me that AI is "inevitable."
#NewSpecies! New #caecilian from #india just snuck in: Gegeneophis bavali Treatment: treatment.plazi.org/id/03D287EC-... Publication: doi.org/10.11646/zoo... #Zootaxa #GegeneophisBavali #FAIRdata #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #conservation #animals #fauna #herpetology #herps #amphibia
Show someone how to look for frogs and write about looking for frogs. In return they get a postgrad degree and we rejoice. I’d say that’s a fair trade.
