Henrique Braz
Herpetology • Natural History • Evolution • Scientific Editing
Research
Reproductive Biology • Natural History • Evolution
Evolution of Reproductive Modes
How and why multiple lizards and snakes have changed the way they produce their babies?
Viviparity (live birth) has evolved an extraordinary number of times (>150) independently among vertebrates. The origin of viviparity imposes several physiological challenges that need to be overcome (elimination of metabolic waste, exchange of respiratory gases, and transport of water and nutrients). Moreover, viviparity dramatically changes the way an organism interacts with its environment.
I have studied the evolution of viviparity in squamates (snakes and lizards), the group that, by far, exhibits most (~75%) origins of viviparity. Specifically, I focus on morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic aspects of the transition to viviparity. I aim to understand how and why multiple species have achieved this evolutionary transition.
Evolution of Reproductive Phenology & Life History
How are animal reproductive patterns shaped by the environment and evolutionary history?
Brazil has more than 730 species of squamates (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians), but the reproductive phenology and life-history traits of most of these species remain poorly known.
One of my research interests is thus to characterize reproductive output parameters (e.g., clutch size, reproductive frequency) and the timing of reproductive events (e.g., gametogenesis, mating, sperm storage, ovulation, and egg-laying/parturition) of squamate reptiles in Brazil.
My overarching goal is to understand how squamate reproductive patterns are shaped by their environment and evolutionary history.
Natural History
How do snakes and lizards live in their natural environment?
As with reproductive biology, many other aspects of the natural history of Brazilian snakes and lizards are still poorly known. Accordingly, I have also always been interested in investigating various aspects of the natural history of squamate reptiles.
Some of the natural history studies I have conducted address feeding ecology, feeding behavior, activity patterns, and geographic distribution.
