| Location within campus: | Vivarium Support Center |
| Head of Laboratory: | Dr. Víctor Hugo Jiménez Arcos Associate Professor C vjimenezarcos@gmail.com |
| Technicians affiliated to the laboratory: | Mr. Beatriz Rubio Morales Mr. Felipe Correa Sánchez Biol. Raul Rivera Velázquez MVZ Eduardo Cid Méndez (Support Hours) |
| Research lines per researcher: | Ecology and Evolution of Amphibians and Reptiles. Conservation of Mexican Herpetofauna. |
We conduct research on the factors that determine and threaten amphibian and reptile species in Mexico. We also seek to understand the overall patterns and processes that threaten biodiversity and develop conservation strategies through the study of natural history, life history, and ecology. As secondary lines of research, we investigate the evolution of alternative mating strategies and sexual dimorphism. We have also described new species of amphibians and reptiles. Currently, we have an approved PAPIIT project focused on determining the loss of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of amphibians in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve.
Consequently, our research is carried out in the field and laboratory.
The Herpetology Vivarium Laboratory has the infrastructure and knowledgeable personnel for the maintenance of amphibians and reptiles in captivity. As an essential aspect of the laboratory, we engage in education and environmental awareness activities related to herpetofauna. Each year, we reach an average of 800 students ranging from preschool to undergraduate level.
Jiménez-Arcos, V. H., Calzada-Arciniega, R. A., Alfaro-Juantorena, L. A., Vázquez-Reyes, L. D., Blair, C. & Parra-Olea, G. (2019). A new species of Charadrahyla (Anura: Hylidae) from the cloud forest of western Oaxaca, Mexico. Zootaxa, 4554, 371-385.
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4554.2.3
Díaz de la Vega-Pérez, A., Jiménez-Arcos, V.H., Centenero-Alcalá, E. Méndez-de la Cruz, F.R. & Ngo, A. 2019. Diversity and conservation of amphibians and reptiles of a protected and heavily disturbed forest. ZooKeys 830: 111–125. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.830.31490
Pérez-Quintero, M. Jiménez-Arcos, V.H. & Cueva del Castillo, R. 2019. The Allometry of Sexual Dimorphism in Sceloporus formosus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Copeia, 107: 475-480. DOI: 10.1643/CE-18-135
Pavón-Vázquez, C.J., Nieto-Montes de Oca, A., Méndoza-Hernández, A.A., Centenero-Alcala, E., Santa Cruz-Padilla, S.A. & Jiménez-Arcos, V.H. 2018. A new species of Plestiodon (Squamata: Scincidae) from the Balsas Basin, Mexico. Zootaxa 4365: 149–172. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4365.2.3
Jiménez-Arcos, V.H., Sanabria-Urbán, O.S. & Cueva del Castillo, R. 2017. The interplay between natural and sexual selection in the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in Sceloporus lizards (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Ecology and Evolution 7:905-917. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2572
| Entry profile of potential thesis students: | Regular students with a minimum GPA of 8.5. Honest, committed, and enthusiastic about field and laboratory work. |
| Service Social Data: | Management and Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in Captivity with Registration Key 2020-12/63-23, affiliated with the Education Action Axis of the Faculta de Estudios Superiores Iztacala of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. |