We present the first checklist of herpetofauna in Bukit Maras (Malaysia) based on surveys conducted from 2019 to 2023. Visual Encounter Surveys (VES) and drift-fenced pitfall traps were employed as collection methods. Our study documented a total of 55 herpetofauna species, comprising 23 amphibians and 32 reptiles. Among these, the critically endangered species, Manouria emys (according to the IUCN Red List) is a species of high conservation concern. The individual-based rarefaction and extrapolation sampling curves were approaching completeness, which indicates that only a few additional species could be discovered if further sampling is conducted. A species-habitat network analysis revealed variations in species composition across different habitat types. Notably, secondary forest exhibited higher herpetofaunal diversity compared to agricultural areas. Overall, the herpetofaunal diversity in Bukit Maras is relatively diverse but the observed disparity in herpetofaunal diversity between the secondary forest and agricultural areas highlights the vulnerability of forest-dependent species to habitat conversion. This suggests a significant decline in overall species richness and potential biotic homogenisation if Bukit Maras is entirely converted to agriculture.

Proteus tritonius Laurenti, 1768 has long been regarded as the larva of Triton alpestris Laurenti, 1768. It is the type species of Ichthyosaura Sonnini & Latreille, 1801, the oldest available generic name for the Alpine newt, Triton being preoccupied by a senior homonym. Mutz and Böhme (2025) declared Proteus tritonius a nomen dubium, based on new interpretation of Laurenti’s text, and moved it to the synonymy of Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758) by a neotype designation. We challenge the validity of this neotype designation, because Mutz and Böhme (2025) ignored evidence contradicting their argumentation, and the morphology of the neotype does not conform with the description of P. tritonius .

The number of alien freshwater turtle records has increased in Greece in recent years. These species happen to be high in demand by the aquatic pet trade, and thus anthropogenic mediation has facilitated their dispersal beyond any natural barriers. The deleterious effects of these species on native biodiversity have long been documented. Here, we report for the first time the presence of the Chinese stripe-necked turtle (Mauremys sinensis) on the island of Lesvos, Greece. Lesvos Island has been heavily monitored in the past, revealing the presence of Trachemys scripta. Mauremys sinensis is now the second invasive species on an island, where the population of Emys orbicularis is decreasing faster than previously expected. We urge swift action to assess the population status of the newly discovered invasive species as well as the added effects it may have along with T. scripta on the two native species, Emys orbicularis and Mauremys rivulata.

The Erhard’s wall lizard Podarcis erhardii (Bedriaga, 1886) was first recorded on the tiny rocky islet of Spanopoula, near Kea (Aegean Archipelago, Greece), in 1980. Since then, there has been no other published reference to confirm the species’ presence or to estimate its population status. Here, we report on a herpetological survey we carried out on Spanopoula 44 years later, which added a third species (Mediodactylus kotschyi) to the islet’s herpetofauna list. During our visit, we collected body-size measurements and tissue samples for the molecular identification of the Podarcis lizards inhabiting the islet. We found a thriving population of medium-sized wall lizards, belonging to the mainland form, P. erhardii livadiacus (Werner, 1902). As this subspecies is not present in adjacent Kea and nearby islands, our finding supports a human-mediated dispersal scenario.

Using two mitochondrial DNA fragments and six nuclear genes, we confirmed that a morphologically intermediate snake, captured in Andalusia, southwestern Spain (municipality of Huelva), was an F1 hybrid between a female Natrix astreptophora and a male N. maura. The two parental species diverged 21.5 million years ago, which is why their capability to hybridize is remarkable. The interspecific mating could have been facilitated by the rarity of N. astreptophora and the abundance of N. maura in southwestern Spain, making it difficult for N. astreptophora females to find conspecific males. In the face of previously published genomic signatures for ancient gene flow between N. astreptophora and N. maura, our finding raises the question of whether occasional hybridization still contributes to a continued exchange of genetic information between these two deeply divergent and old taxa.

The Vietnam Skink (Plestiodon tamdaoensis) was described from Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam, in 1937, and the species is currently known only from northern Vietnam and Hong Kong of China, whereas the Devouring Forest Skink (Scincella devorator) was described from Yen Tu Nature Reserve, Vietnam, in 2004, and the species is endemic to northern Vietnam. As a result of our field surveys in 2023 and 2024 in Ba Vi National Park, Vietnam, we reported new distribution records, morphological data, and natural history of Plestiodon tamdaoensis and Scincella devorator. In addition, we used species distribution modeling to predict the potential distribution of these species. The model showed that the potential distribution of P. tamdaoensis is approximately 110,000 km2 and that of S. devorator is approximately 130,000 km2, covering northern Vietnam, southern China, and northern Laos, significantly expanding its known range compared to the IUCN range map.

The current knowledge on the herpetofauna of Syros is updated, whereby no publications on it have been made since 1975. I provide the results from a field trip in 2024 that focused on the hygrophilous species. The Balkan Water Frog and the Balkan Terrapin, mentioned for Syros in the 19th century, meanwhile have become extinct. The Green Toad is threatened with extinction, the status of the Grass Snake is unclear. The Green Toad has benefited previously from anthropogenic spawning grounds in the form of open cisterns, which have fallen into disuse and thus are no longer available to the amphibians. The ongoing climate change in the Aegean region is reflected in drier winters, which dry out water bodies. The situation for the wetlands and their fauna and flora on Syros is alarming.

The Sporades are one of the most biologically important archipelagos in the Aegean Sea (Greece) and have received priority conservation over the last 50 years. However, despite numerous early efforts, its herpetofauna is only partially described, resulting in many distributional gaps that have prevented adequate understanding and management of the resident species communities. We review one century of bibliography from the Northern Sporades and combine this information with a review of museum specimens and insights from numerous extensive field surveys over the last near-decade to provide for the first time a comprehensive picture of the reptiles and amphibians of the archipelago. We report here on 26 new island records and find that the herptile communities of the region are largely derived from the herpetofauna of the nearby Thessaly mainland, with only a few introduced taxa. There is also a small but significant set of endemic taxa in the archipelago. Island species richness declines with decreasing island size and increasing duration of island isolation. Herptile communities on smaller islands are progressively nested subsets of the communities on larger islands. The presence of reptile species depends sensitively on the condition and management of native ecosystems. While non-aquatic species maintain largely healthy populations, most populations are under pressure from the combined effects of rampant tourist development, the destruction and degradation of rare wetland habitats, and the abandonment of traditional agricultural landscapes. We provide recommendations regarding sustainable management of the local reptile and amphibian populations.

We report the first record of Amolops truongi Pham, Pham, Ngo, Sung, Ziegler & Le, 2023 from China, based on four specimens collected in Yunnan Huanglianshan National Nature Reserve. This species was previously known only from the type locality in north-western Vietnam. Morphologically, the specimens from China correspond to the original description of A. truongi with a few variations and, phylogenetically, they are clustered with the type specimens of A. truongi from Vietnam with strong support. In this study, we also provide an updated diagnosis of this species combining the original description and new data.

Melanophryniscus fulvoguttatus is a small toad that inhabits the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, and humid Chaco of South America. Due to its aposematic coloration and behavior, it is a species that may present chemical defenses such as alkaloids and a restricted diet similar to other species of the genus. Although it was described in the early 20th century, there is still little information on its natural history and ecology. Here, we described the diet, tested the sexual dimorphism, and calculated the fertility index of M. fulvoguttatus based on a sample of eight males and 21 females from a population within the Cerrado. Sexual dimorphism was assessed using 15 morphometric measures; diet was calculated as an index of relative importance by prey item and tested for sex differences; fertility was tested for relations between body size and the number of eggs; and we also estimated the reproductive investment. Our results demonstrate that this population’s diet consisted mostly of ant species, with Pheidole radoszkowskii being the most important, followed by Crematogaster sp. and Cyphomyrmex transversus. Regarding sexual dimorphism, we observed that females were significantly larger than males, with a positive relationship between female size and the number of eggs. We did not find significant differences in the diets of males and females. Although the diet and reproductive aspects of M. fulvoguttatus are similar to those of its congeneric species, further studies are needed in order to address the relationship between the species diet and its chemical defenses.