Our Mission

Reptile Research is a conservation research organization, dedicated to understanding biodiversity of reptiles and amphibians. Education, volunteering, and capacity building are integral to this task. We offer people the experiences, skills and tools to promote understanding of biodiversity beyond our own organization. As images of nature are one of the best devices for both documenting biodiversity and sharing it with the world, photography is also central to our goals.

 

 Who are we?

Reptile Research is a group of professional naturalists, educators and photographers leading research expeditions in Ecuador and the Desert Southwestern United States.

 

 

Carlos Robles, Naturalist

Carlos has served as our guide and expert naturalist for the past five years in western Ecuador. He is a well-rounded naturalist experienced in plants and habitats, as well as reptiles and amphibians. His other virtues are the ability to never, ever, to get lost lost in a remote jungle, and his abilities at Ecuadorian Folk guitar and singing, offering entertainment and levity in-between field trips. Carlos will works with our Ecuadorian research teams, leads groups to any remote locations.

 

Greg Vigle, Collaborator, Herpetologist

 

Greg is the Director of the Librarius Study Center at Reserva Jatun Sacha in Amazonian Ecuador, where we hold our Tropical Ecology course each year. He has spent the last 25 years studying Ecuadorian Herpetofauna, and is one of the leading scientists in this particular field. Greg acts as field coordinator for us at Jatun Sacha, and is first author of "A Photographic Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Jatun Sacha Biological Station, Amazonian Ecuador"

Ana Almedariz, Professor, Herpetologist (not pictured)

 

Ana is our herpetologist collaborator in Ecuador. She is curator of the exceptional herpetological collections at the Escuela Politécnica Nacional de Quito. She assists us with various logistical and scientific aspects of our work, and our specimens are left in her able care.

 

 

Darwin Leon, Naturalist-in-Training

The aptly named Darwin is our new trainee as a guide and naturalist. While still in training, he has shown exceptional interest and motivation for our work, and has learned some advanced techniques for lab and field work. We look forward to continuing his training and working with him for years to come.

 

 

 

Placido Palacios, Naturalist

In serving as our guide and naturalist at Bosque Protector La Perla, Placido leads us through the reserve, and reveals its secrets to us. He helps with all of our field work, and leads groups to more remote locations on the reserve.