Benjamin Genter
BENJAMIN W. GENTER
Undergraduate Student
Education:
B.S. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida (in progress)
B.S. Statistics, University of Florida (in progress)
Research Project: Investigating range expansions for non-native amphibians and reptiles in the southeastern US
Research Overview: I am making collections of amphibians and reptiles across the southeastern USA, with an emphasis on non-native species, to document their distribution and spread. With the rapid expansion of the ranges of many of these non-native species, particularly geckos, collections are crucial to monitor their spread and verify their identifications. Recently, I have helped document new state records of Hemidactylus aff. malcolmsmithi and H. mabouia across the southeastern USA and worked to document Tarentola mauritanica in San Antonio, Texas. I am also working to publish species distributional records in Indiana, stemming from both recent collecting efforts and historic collections, and leading on a phylogenomic study on North American Tantilla (black-headed snakes).
Publications:
Genter BW, Davis DR. In press. First records of Hemidactylus aff. malcolmsmithi in Florida and Alabama, USA. Reptiles & Amphibians.
Myers CJ, Genter BW, Davis DR. In review. County records of amphibians and reptiles from the High Plains ecoregion of Texas, USA. Herpetological Review.
Madison JD, Davis DR, Genter BW, LaDuc TJ, Muletz Wolz C. 2026. Microbiome varies by body site in the yellow mud turtle, Kinosternon flavescens, from the Chihuahuan Desert. Microbiology Spectrum 14:e03664-25. [PDF]
Salmon GT, Genter BW, Davis DR. 2025. Nerodia erythrogaster (plain-bellied watersnake). Mortality. Herpetological Review 56:454. [PDF]
Myers CJ, Genter BW, Green KE, Kuschel JE, Duffendack SJ, Davis DR. 2025. Geographic distribution: Tarentola mauritanica (Moorish gecko). Herpetological Review 56:382–383. [PDF]
Genter BW, Davis DR. 2025. Smilisca baudinii (Mexican treefrog). Diet. Herpetological Review 56:62–63. [PDF]
Genter BW, Davis DR. 2025. New county records of non-native herpetofauna in Florida, USA, from 2023 and 2024. Herpetological Review 56:40–43. [PDF]
Davis DR, Guadiana CJ, Robinson PS, Genter BW, LaDuc TJ. 2024. Geographic distribution: Hemidactylus aff. malcolmsmithi. Herpetological Review 55:519. [PDF]
Mirtl JJ, Genter BW, Truelock Z, Sargent BA, Davis DR, Engbrecht NJ. 2024. Geographic distribution: Podarcis muralis (common wall lizard). Herpetological Review 55:219. [PDF]
Davis DR, Genter BW. 2024. Geographic distribution: Cyrtopodion scabrum (rough-tailed gecko). Herpetological Review 55:218. [PDF]
Davis DR, Genter BW, LaDuc TJ. 2024. Invasion history of the Moorish gecko, Tarentola mauritanica (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae), in the USA, with new records of an established population in Texas. Reptiles & Amphibians 31:e21502. [PDF]
Gonzalez JT, Genter BW, Davis DR. 2023. Geographic distribution: Pituophis catenifer (gophersnake). Herpetological Review 54:602. [PDF]
Genter BW, LaDuc TJ, Davis DR. 2023. Crotalus scutulatus (Mohave rattlesnake). Defensive behavior. Herpetological Review 54:482. [PDF]
Genter BW, Davis DR. 2022. Geographic distribution: Hemidactylus turcicus (Mediterranean gecko). Herpetological Review 53:629. [PDF]
Genter BW, Davis DR. 2022. Geographic distribution: Haldea striatula (rough earthsnake). Herpetological Review 53:264. [PDF]
