https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89663464912?pwd=b3RueFRRSnRPVUNwSmJRRmxrWS9vdz09

Meeting ID: 896 6346 4912

Passcode: 931425

In the early 2000's Dr. Aaron Bauer and Dr. Trip (A.C.) Lamb received an NSF grant for research in southern Africa. The grant was to explore the reason behind the high incidence of endemic species found in Southern Africa. Field workers included the late Dr. Bill Branch, Paul Moler, Johan Marais, various students and Babb. This endemism is displayed among many species found in the subcontienent such as small adders (Bitis sp.), tortoises, fossorial skinks (Acontias, Typlacontias, Typhlosaurs, ect.), and particularly in Pachydactylus geckos. This later group was the focus of the project though other herptile species were sampled as well. The project focused its work in South Africa and Namibia and entailed several trips to these countries. Many papers were produced from these sampling efforts beyond the endemism questions including discovery of new species, redisovery of lost species, new regional distribution records, and taxonomic reviews of the genus Pachydactylus, Gerrhosaurus and Cordylus.

Native Arizonan Randy Babb worked with the Forest Service on grazing impact studies in the southwest but soon transitioned to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. He retired in 2018 after working for 34 years as a biologist. His chief interests are reptiles and amphibians, small mammals, invertebrates, and botany. He has had the good fortune to work on projects in the American tropics, Southeast Asia, and Africa with friends and other biological professionals. He authored Reptiles & Amphibians of Sonoran Desert