People

Davis Herpetology Lab

DREW R. DAVIS, PH.D.
Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor of Wildlife Biology
Director, Gennaro Natural History Museum
Associate Curator of Herpetology, ENMU Natural History Museum
Department of Biology, Eastern New Mexico University

Assistant Professor (**starting January 2027**)
School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Research Affiliate, Biodiversity Collections
Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin

Editor, Herpetological Review
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

Google Scholar
ResearchGate
Curriculum Vitae (updated 2 September 2025)

Office: Roosevelt Science Center 258
Lab: Roosevelt Science Center 237
E-mail: drew.davis (at) enmu.edu
Phone: 575.562.2723

Education:
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, University of South Dakota, 2018
M.S. Population and Conservation Biology, Texas State University, 2012
B.S. Biology (Ecology, Evolution, Behavior), The University of Texas at Austin, 2009

KEVIN E. GREEN
M.S. Student
Graduate Research Assistant

Education:
M.S. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University (in progress)
B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Eastern New Mexico University, 2025

Research Project: Assessing the distribution and conservation status of imperiled aquatic turtles in southwestern Indiana

Research Overview: I am conducting surveys for four species of imperiled turtles in southwestern Indiana: River Cooter, False Map Turtle, Smooth Softshell, and Eastern Mud Turtle. Additionally, I will estimate population sizes and summarize demographic data on these focal species, identify high-quality nesting sites and hot-spots of species abundance and diversity for future conservation action, and engage with the public to generate observations of focal species that will help guide sampling efforts. I am also working on projects documenting the spread of the Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis) along the Ohio River, the diet and parasites of non-native house geckos (Hemidactylus) in south Texas, and the prevalence of amphibian pathogens in an introduced population of Rio Cauca Caecilians (Typhlonectes natans) from south Florida.

Publications:
Keim C (and 282 others, including Davis DR and Green KE). In review. SNAPSHOT USA 2025: year 7 of the coordinated national camera trap survey of the United States. Global Ecology and Biogeography.

Davis DR, Green KE, Guadiana CJ, Pons, Jr MB, LaDuc TJ. In revision. Distribution of introduced Hemidactylus (Gekkonidae: Squamata) across south Texas, USA. Herpetological Conservation and Biology.

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]

Green KE, Davis DR. 2025. Extending the known range of Hemidactylus aff. malcolmsmithi: new records from Louisiana and Mississippi, USA. Herpetological Review 56:282–283. [PDF]

Green KE, Davis DR. 2024. Rana pipiens (northern leopard frog). Defensive behavior. Herpetological Review 55:549–550. [PDF]

Green KE, Davis DR. 2024. Historic amphibian and reptile records from the Natural History Museum, Eastern New Mexico University. Herpetological Review 55:531–532. [PDF]

Green KE, Power JG, Davis DR. 2024. Osteopilus septentrionalis (Cuban treefrog). Predation. Herpetological Review 55:411–412. [PDF]

JAKE E. KUSCHEL
M.S. Student
Graduate Research Assistant

Education:
M.S. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University (in progress)
B.S. Environmental Biology (Zoology), Michigan State University, 2024

Research Project: Utilizing environmental DNA surveys to detect imperiled snakes across New Mexico, USA

Research Overview: I am a lifelong herpetology-obsessed individual and am particularly passionate about snakes. At ENMU, I am working on a project funded by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and will be using environmental DNA to survey for the presence of two imperiled snake species: the Mexican Gartersnake (Thamnophis eques) and the Plain-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster). These surveys will assist in mapping the habitat distribution of these snakes to inform conservation efforts.

Publications:
Kuschel JE, Guadiana CJ, Davis DR. 2025. Coniophanes imperialis (regal black-striped snake). Diet. Herpetological Review 56:446–447. [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]

Kuschel JE, Davis DR. 2025. Distributional records of herpetofauna from the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA. Herpetological Review 56:44–46. [PDF]

SPENCER J. DUFFENDACK
M.S. Student
Graduate Teaching Assistant

Education:
M.S. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University (in progress)
B.S. Biology, Truman State University, 2025

Research Project: Investigating the physiological and environmental factors influencing the distribution of the Rio Grande Cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi)

Research Overview: I am a biologist interested in leveraging ecological research to inform conservation and management, especially as applied to herpetofauna. During my undergraduate studies, I led research investigating the presence of chytrid fungus in an amphibian community in northern Missouri, thermal ecology of Checkered Whiptail Lizards (Aspidoscelis tesselatus) in the Chihuahuan Desert, and the chemoreceptive response of Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) to seasonally abundant prey. At ENMU, I am working on a project investigating the physiological and environmental factors that influence the distribution of the Rio Grande Cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi), a species of greatest conservation need in New Mexico and Texas, and am co-advised by Dr. Corey Green.

Publications:
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]

BRADEN J. DEWEERD
M.S. Student
Graduate Research Assistant

Education:
M.S. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University (in progress)
B.S. Biology, Calvin University, 2025

Research Project: Assessing the distribution of SGCN frog species and their threats in eastern New Mexico

Research Overview: I am a wildlife enthusiast dedicated to understanding and protecting imperiled herpetofauna. At ENMU, I will be conducting surveys for three SGCN frog species along the Pecos River: the Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi), Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Rana berlandieri), and Plains Leopard Frog (R. blairi). Additionally, I may also conduct surveys for the Spotted Chorus Frog (Pseudacris clarkii) in east-central New Mexico. Using the collected survey data, I will evaluate habitat correlates for species presence to inform conservation and management decisions. I will also monitor invasive American Bullfrog (R. catesbeiana) populations and will contribute to management efforts through community engagement and individual frog removal in the field.

Publications:
Davis DR, Haag MM, DeWeerd BJ. In review. Geographic distribution: Hemidactylus turcicus (Mediterranean gecko). Herpetological Review.

Haag MM, DeWeerd BJ, Myers CJ, Davis DR. In review. Rana catesbeiana (American bullfrog). Diet. Herpetological Review.

DeWeerd BJ, Gorum LW, Davis DR. In review. Crotalus atrox (western diamond-backed rattlesnake). Diet. Herpetological Review.

BENJAMIN W. GENTER
B.S. Student
Undergraduate Research Assistant

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. I am also working to publish species distributional records in Indiana, stemming from both recent collecting efforts and historic collections, and beginning to investigate the distribution and history of Nerodia erythrogaster across south Texas.

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.

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]

CADEN J. MYERS
B.S. Student
Undergraduate Research Assistant (Summer 2025, 2026)

Education:
B.S. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida (in progress)

Research Project: Diet of the non-native Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) in Texas, USA

Research Overview: I am an undergraduate researcher who has been assisting with fieldwork and research on projects studying Western Ribbonsnakes, Plain-bellied Watersnakes, Mexican Gartersnakes, and Rio Grande Cooters across New Mexico and Texas over the past two summers. I also led on a project examining the diet of non-native Moorish Geckos (Tarentolamauritanica) from San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, and am in the process of publishing these data. Recently, this work has also expanded to include both external and internal parasites found in these non-native lizards. Throughout all of this, I have been actively collecting voucher specimens of amphibians and reptiles to help document species occurrence, especially in regions where there has been limited survey efforts. Outside of academia, I enjoy field herping and photography. 

Publications:
Myers CJ, Haag MM, Davis DR. In review. Geographic distribution: Hemidactylus aff. malcolmsmithi. Herpetological Review.

Haag MM, DeWeerd BJ, Myers CJ, Davis DR. In review. Rana catesbeiana (American bullfrog). Diet. Herpetological Review.

Myers CJ, Genter BW, Davis DR. In review. County records of amphibians and reptiles from the High Plains ecoregion of Texas, USA. Herpetological Review.

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]

Myers CJ, Davis DR. 2025. Terrapene ornata (ornate box turtle). Diet. Herpetological Review 56:199. [PDF]

MADDEN M. HAAG
M.S. Student, Research Collaborator
Post-baccalaureate Research Assistant (Summer 2026)

Education:
B.S. Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 2026
M.S., Integrative Biology, Michigan State University (in progress)

Research Project: Morphological variation among populations of the Great Plains Ratsnake (Pantherophis emoryi) in Texas

Research Overview: I’m a recent graduate of the University of Florida and worked as a summer technician, assisting with several projects in the Davis Herpetology Lab. These projects include conducting surveys for imperiled frogs, performing eDNA surveys for natricine snakes and the Rio Grande Cooter across the Pecos River. I am continuing to work with on several datasets with Dr. Davis, including examining a morphological dataset on Texas ratsnakes (Pantherophis). At the University of Florida, I studied Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and worked as a collections assistant in both the herpetology and paleontology departments at the Florida Museum of Natural History. During this time, I conducted research on amphisbaenid ecology, squamate osteology, herpetological niche modeling, and large extinct sea boas. I am currently a M.S. student in the Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University working on reptile phylogenetic for my thesis. Outside of my professional work, I enjoy field herping, hiking, fossil hunting, and photography.

Publications:
Davis DR, Haag MM, DeWeerd BJ. In review. Geographic distribution: Hemidactylus turcicus (Mediterranean gecko). Herpetological Review.

Myers CJ, Haag MM, Davis DR. In review. Geographic distribution: Hemidactylus aff. malcolmsmithi. Herpetological Review.

Haag MM, Davis DR. In review. Documenting the continued expansion of the Mediterranean gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) in north-central Texas. Herpetological Review.

Haag MM, DeWeerd BJ, Myers CJ, Davis DR. In review. Rana catesbeiana (American bullfrog). Diet. Herpetological Review.

Previous Graduate Students

Sebastian D. Summo Elias: M.S. Biology, Eastern New Mexico University, 2026

    • Thesis title: Distribution, habitat use, and conservation ecology of the Western Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus) in eastern New Mexico
    • Funding: New Mexico Department of Wildlife; Southwestern Association of Naturalists; Eastern New Mexico University; American Museum of Natural History
    • current position: Ph.D. student at the University of Florida
  • Sean M. Collins (M.S. Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2022): Examination of amphibian community and environmental relationships in South Texas using environment DNA (eDNA)
  • Rebecca T. Chastain (M.S. Biology; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2022): The potential impact of climate change on the distributions of Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides and E. planirostris (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae)
  • Padraic S. Robinson (M.S. Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2021): Status, distribution, and conservation of the Black-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis) in south Texas
  • Krista M. Ruppert (M.S. Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2020): Development and assessment of an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for the Rio Grande siren and review of eDNA metabarcoding applications (website)
  • Amy P. Bogolin (M.S. Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2020): Comparing novel and traditional sampling methodologies to analyze the population status of the Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi)

Previous UNDERGRADUATE Students

  • Reagan N. Moritomo (B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences; Eastern New Mexico University, 2025): Behavioral responses of explosive-breeding anurans to invertebrate predators
  • Joshua T. Gonzalez (B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences; Eastern New Mexico University, 2023): Mapping the distribution of the Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica) in the Canadian River
  • Kalie M. Leonard (B.S. Biology; University of South Dakota, 2018): The effects of the neonicotinoid clothianidin on larval Western Tiger Salamanders
  • Rachel E. Johannsen (B.S. Biology; University of South Dakota, 2017): Curating and georeferencing voucher specimens of amphibians and reptiles in South Dakota
  • Andrew D. Koch (B.S. Biology; University of South Dakota, 2017): Effects of agricultural contaminants and ranavirus infection on stress hormone levels in Plains Leopard Frogs (Rana blairi)
  • Gabrielle A. Maltaverne (B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences; South Dakota State University, 2016): Establishing amphibian and reptile teaching collections at South Dakota State University and Oak Lake Field Station
  • Katie J. Ferguson (B.S. Biology; University of South Dakota, 2014): Examining the influence of agricultural tile drainage on water-borne hormone levels of larval Western Tiger Salamanders
  • Dominic L. DeSantis (B.S. Wildlife Biology; Texas State University, 2013): Predator avoidance in the Barton Springs Salamander, Eurycea sosorum
  • Michael J. Edwards (B.S. Biology; Texas State University, 2012): Mosquitofish predation on Eurycea salamander eggs and larvae

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE LAB?

The DHL is moving to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, Texas, starting in January 2027. Send me an e-mail (drew.davis [at] utrgv.edu) to inquire about position availability. I am recruiting students for the positions listed below:

M.S. students:

  • I am recruiting a student for a funded M.S. position to start in Fall 2027 on a project related to south Texas amphibian and reptile ecology and conservation. More information is available here: LINK.
  • Motivated students are encouraged to contact me if they are interested in developing a graduate research proposal for external funding (e.g, NSF GRFP). I am happy to help sponsor student research on topics where our interests overlap or share a common theme. Additionally, I am able to periodically accept students interested in Teaching Assistantships to pursue research on topics focusing on the ecology and conservation of regional amphibians and reptiles. Please send me an e-mail to discuss possibilities further.

Undergraduate and pre-college students:

  • I am always recruiting undergraduate and pre-college (high school) students to participate with on-going research in the lab or to begin independent research projects. I strongly encourage participation in research by students of all ages and am happy to help advise on these projects. Opportunities specific to pre-college (high school) students exist and I’m happy to help direct you to these resources.