Dr Mark D. Scherz
@markscherz.bsky.social
Curator of Herpetology & Associate Professor of Vertebrate Zoology at Natural History Museum of Denmark • ERC StG: GEMINI • Co-host of SquaMates Podcast and AnatomyInsights on Youtube • He/Him
Pinned
Dr Mark D. Scherz
@markscherz.bsky.social
· Aug 12
Thrilled to announce version 2.0 of my poster featuring some of Madagascar's endemic frog species, to scale! This version features 176 species—40 more than version 1.1 (now retired)! Check it out!
🐸🧪
www.redbubble.com/i/poster/Som...
🐸🧪
www.redbubble.com/i/poster/Som...
PSA: Anyone living close to the coast in the northeast Atlantic should keep their eyes out for beached sea turtles as we head into the coldest months of the year. Countries across northwest Europe have quietly been documenting greatly elevated stranding rates for the last couple of years. 🧪🐢
November 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
PSA: Anyone living close to the coast in the northeast Atlantic should keep their eyes out for beached sea turtles as we head into the coldest months of the year. Countries across northwest Europe have quietly been documenting greatly elevated stranding rates for the last couple of years. 🧪🐢
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
Read the full research paper published in 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑍𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦, a Senckenberg journal hosted on the ARPHA Platform:
doi.org/10.3897/vz.7...
doi.org/10.3897/vz.7...
Museomics and integrative taxonomy reveal three new species of glandular viviparous tree toads (Nectophrynoides) in Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains (Anura: Bufonidae)
Abstract For the last century, herpetologists have referred to any Nectophrynoides Noble, 1926 toad characterized by a large, robust body, with large, distinct parotoid glands, as Nectophryno...
doi.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Read the full research paper published in 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑍𝑜𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦, a Senckenberg journal hosted on the ARPHA Platform:
doi.org/10.3897/vz.7...
doi.org/10.3897/vz.7...
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
Three newly discovered toad species skip the tadpole phase entirely and give birth to live toadlets! 🐸
Learn more about these rare amphibians on our blog: blog.pensoft.net/2025/11/17/t...
Learn more about these rare amphibians on our blog: blog.pensoft.net/2025/11/17/t...
Three new toad species skip the tadpole phase and give birth to live toadlets
Researchers have identified three new species of tree-dwelling toads from Africa, all of which skip the tadpole phase and give birth to live toadlets.
blog.pensoft.net
November 17, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Three newly discovered toad species skip the tadpole phase entirely and give birth to live toadlets! 🐸
Learn more about these rare amphibians on our blog: blog.pensoft.net/2025/11/17/t...
Learn more about these rare amphibians on our blog: blog.pensoft.net/2025/11/17/t...
Does anyone know where NCBI stands with the backlog of sequence submissions? I guess so many days of unprocessed submissions are not exactly going to resolve quickly, but I really need some GenBank numbers! 🧪
November 17, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Does anyone know where NCBI stands with the backlog of sequence submissions? I guess so many days of unprocessed submissions are not exactly going to resolve quickly, but I really need some GenBank numbers! 🧪
The Natural History Museum Denmark is seeking a new Head of Conservation Unit! The conservation team here works on a wide array of incredible specimens, and are hard at work preparing for the new museum opening in spring 2027! candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
Talentech - Head of Conservation Unit at the Natural History Museum Denmark // Leder af Konserveringsenheden ved Statens Naturhistoriske Museum
candidate.hr-manager.net
November 17, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The Natural History Museum Denmark is seeking a new Head of Conservation Unit! The conservation team here works on a wide array of incredible specimens, and are hard at work preparing for the new museum opening in spring 2027! candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
The first digital anatomical atlases of the chameleon skull, nervous system & cranial & hyolingual muscles are published, including lesson plans to bridge a gap between theoretical knowledge & hands-on analysis in comparative anatomy
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
November 17, 2025 at 4:53 AM
The first digital anatomical atlases of the chameleon skull, nervous system & cranial & hyolingual muscles are published, including lesson plans to bridge a gap between theoretical knowledge & hands-on analysis in comparative anatomy
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Our newly described live-bearing toads from Tanzania have now been covered in at least 20 languages, have made it to Danish national news, and will also be on several radio shows this week in Danish and German! 🐸🧪
www.markscherz.com/media
www.markscherz.com/media
November 12, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Our newly described live-bearing toads from Tanzania have now been covered in at least 20 languages, have made it to Danish national news, and will also be on several radio shows this week in Danish and German! 🐸🧪
www.markscherz.com/media
www.markscherz.com/media
Former lab member @njorisfleck.bsky.social and colleagues just showed that some carnivorous plants do CAM photosynthesis! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🌱☀️🧪
🌱☀️🧪
Yes, we CAM! First evidence of CAM photosynthesis in a carnivorous plant
Evidence for weak, facultative CAM is reported for the first time in a carnivorous plant, i.e., in Mexican representatives of Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae).
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Former lab member @njorisfleck.bsky.social and colleagues just showed that some carnivorous plants do CAM photosynthesis! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
🌱☀️🧪
🌱☀️🧪
A new post about the three #newspecies of toad we have just described from Tanzania, feat @christianthrane.bsky.social, Simon Loader, @alicepetzold.bsky.social, John Lyakurwa, and Michele Menegon! 🧪🐸🇹🇿
www.markscherz.com/archives/6208
www.markscherz.com/archives/6208
Three new live-bearing toads from Tanzania!
This week we have published an exciting new paper describing three new species of bumpy, bright-coloured, live-bearing, tree-dwelling toads from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania! You can read …
www.markscherz.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A new post about the three #newspecies of toad we have just described from Tanzania, feat @christianthrane.bsky.social, Simon Loader, @alicepetzold.bsky.social, John Lyakurwa, and Michele Menegon! 🧪🐸🇹🇿
www.markscherz.com/archives/6208
www.markscherz.com/archives/6208
Today we described three new toad species that give birth to fully formed toadlets, from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania! 🇹🇿🧪🐸
vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/1670...
vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/1670...
November 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Today we described three new toad species that give birth to fully formed toadlets, from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania! 🇹🇿🧪🐸
vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/1670...
vertebrate-zoology.arphahub.com/article/1670...
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
Three new species of tree toads from Tanzania have been discovered. 🐸
These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!
Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!
Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
New species of toads that give birth to live young discovered in Tanzania | Natural History Museum
Museum specimens have helped scientists discover three new species of tree-dwelling toads.
www.nhm.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Three new species of tree toads from Tanzania have been discovered. 🐸
These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!
Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
These amphibians don’t lay frogspawn or have a tadpole phase like most other toads, but instead give birth to live young!
Find out how museum specimens helped scientists to discover these species. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
Watch this space for some news at 12:00 GMT tomorrow! Something new for me, and a really awesome collaboration. 🐸🧪
November 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Watch this space for some news at 12:00 GMT tomorrow! Something new for me, and a really awesome collaboration. 🐸🧪
Seems obvious to me that having a gut that be longer than your body is clearly advantageous. This is a great way to overcome one of the limits imposed by diminutive body size itself!
Crazy-looking larval cusk eel with an impressive external gut. We’re still not sure why having the intestines on the outside is advantageous, but there must be a good reason 🤔
TL ~2.5cm
#cuskeel #larvalfish #deepseafish #deepseacreatures #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug
TL ~2.5cm
#cuskeel #larvalfish #deepseafish #deepseacreatures #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug
October 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Seems obvious to me that having a gut that be longer than your body is clearly advantageous. This is a great way to overcome one of the limits imposed by diminutive body size itself!
It has been an extremely dry year for me in terms of publications so far, but a flurry of activity in the last few weeks has left me with eight papers submitted and two in press due to drop in the next couple of weeks! A total turnaround. Huge push by many coauthors. Next year may be a bumper! 🧪
October 27, 2025 at 10:46 PM
It has been an extremely dry year for me in terms of publications so far, but a flurry of activity in the last few weeks has left me with eight papers submitted and two in press due to drop in the next couple of weeks! A total turnaround. Huge push by many coauthors. Next year may be a bumper! 🧪
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
My exit from the other site cost me a contact and wondering if anyone can assist with a taxonomist who works on polychaetes??? 🪱🧪🔬
Any One Anyone There GIF
ALT: Any One Anyone There GIF
media.tenor.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:28 PM
My exit from the other site cost me a contact and wondering if anyone can assist with a taxonomist who works on polychaetes??? 🪱🧪🔬
A few cool #newspecies coming soon! Watch this space! 🧪🐸
October 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM
A few cool #newspecies coming soon! Watch this space! 🧪🐸
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
🧬 Now published in Bioinformatics Advances: “Advances and challenges in understanding evolution through genome comparison.”
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf223
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf223
October 20, 2025 at 10:01 AM
🧬 Now published in Bioinformatics Advances: “Advances and challenges in understanding evolution through genome comparison.”
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf223
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf223
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
Frog-people! What’s the current consensus on the origin of chytrid? Is shipping Xenopus around the world in the 1930s still the vibe or is an East Asian/Korean origin for the pandemic lineage where we’re at these days? 🐸
October 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Frog-people! What’s the current consensus on the origin of chytrid? Is shipping Xenopus around the world in the 1930s still the vibe or is an East Asian/Korean origin for the pandemic lineage where we’re at these days? 🐸
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
Excited to share our new #biorxivpreprint:
“Sexual dimorphism in the complete connectome of the Drosophila male central nervous system” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We describe the #connectomics reconstruction and analysis of an entire adult #maleCNS #drosophila central nervous system. 1/10
“Sexual dimorphism in the complete connectome of the Drosophila male central nervous system” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We describe the #connectomics reconstruction and analysis of an entire adult #maleCNS #drosophila central nervous system. 1/10
October 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Excited to share our new #biorxivpreprint:
“Sexual dimorphism in the complete connectome of the Drosophila male central nervous system” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We describe the #connectomics reconstruction and analysis of an entire adult #maleCNS #drosophila central nervous system. 1/10
“Sexual dimorphism in the complete connectome of the Drosophila male central nervous system” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We describe the #connectomics reconstruction and analysis of an entire adult #maleCNS #drosophila central nervous system. 1/10
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
Violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus) growing under gorse today near the Devil’s Punchbowl in Surrey. An absolute stunner of a mushroom and nationally rare - it’s always good to see these beauties.
#ukfungi
#ukfungi
October 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus) growing under gorse today near the Devil’s Punchbowl in Surrey. An absolute stunner of a mushroom and nationally rare - it’s always good to see these beauties.
#ukfungi
#ukfungi
After ELEVEN YEARS of work, today I finally submitted my 205-page monograph on the diamond frogs of Madagascar, genus Rhombophryne, in which we are describing several new species. Feels so good to finally have it submitted. I can't wait to share the new species with you all! 🧪🐸🟤💎
October 3, 2025 at 9:52 PM
After ELEVEN YEARS of work, today I finally submitted my 205-page monograph on the diamond frogs of Madagascar, genus Rhombophryne, in which we are describing several new species. Feels so good to finally have it submitted. I can't wait to share the new species with you all! 🧪🐸🟤💎
Reposted by Dr Mark D. Scherz
🔁Please share - we remind the SMBE community that the Call for Symposia for #SMBE2026 in Copenhagen is open.
We invite you to submit a symposium proposal to help shape the scientific content of our annual meeting.
🗓️Deadline: October 15th
More info: smbe2026.org/symposia
@official-smbe.bsky.social
We invite you to submit a symposium proposal to help shape the scientific content of our annual meeting.
🗓️Deadline: October 15th
More info: smbe2026.org/symposia
@official-smbe.bsky.social
October 3, 2025 at 8:15 AM
🔁Please share - we remind the SMBE community that the Call for Symposia for #SMBE2026 in Copenhagen is open.
We invite you to submit a symposium proposal to help shape the scientific content of our annual meeting.
🗓️Deadline: October 15th
More info: smbe2026.org/symposia
@official-smbe.bsky.social
We invite you to submit a symposium proposal to help shape the scientific content of our annual meeting.
🗓️Deadline: October 15th
More info: smbe2026.org/symposia
@official-smbe.bsky.social
Oh, what a beautiful morning!
October 2, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Oh, what a beautiful morning!
So sorry to hear of Dame Jane Goodall's passing. What a life to celebrate, though! One of my most prised possessions is my copy of the Silmarillion, which she signed for me in 2014 when she came to deliver a talk in Munich. She said that she, too, admired the works of Tolkien. 🧝♀️💎💎💎
October 1, 2025 at 7:58 PM
So sorry to hear of Dame Jane Goodall's passing. What a life to celebrate, though! One of my most prised possessions is my copy of the Silmarillion, which she signed for me in 2014 when she came to deliver a talk in Munich. She said that she, too, admired the works of Tolkien. 🧝♀️💎💎💎
Spent a little time in the last couple of day working with micro-CT scans of frogs again. This is the holotype of Rhombophryne coronata. I’m hoping to submit a manuscript including a plate of this specimen’s skeleton tomorrow! 🧪🐸🩻
September 30, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Spent a little time in the last couple of day working with micro-CT scans of frogs again. This is the holotype of Rhombophryne coronata. I’m hoping to submit a manuscript including a plate of this specimen’s skeleton tomorrow! 🧪🐸🩻