Natural History, Phylogeny & Biogeography of amphibians

Our natural history research is focussed on the Indian subcontinent, and recently also on the neotropical Pantepui area, where we try to discover new species and use phylogenies to understand the origin of endemism. We also like to apply molecular timescales for interpreting biogeographic patterns  in amphibians.

Tracing Antimicrobial peptides and Pheromones in the Amphibian Skin

Most studies on amphibian skin peptides have an explicit pharmacological focus, and the origin, diversity, and functional diversification of these molecules therefore remain poorly understood. We are using an integrative approach to identify and characterize novel antimicrobial and pheromone skin peptides in amphibians.

Evo-Devo

We’re interested in the origin and loss of complex morphological features, such as limbs and toe pads, in amphibians. We use both genomic and expression data to better understand these fascinating transitions in evolution.

Research

Our research centers around the use of molecular phylogenies to elucidate evolutionary patterns, and the processes that produce them, in amphibians. We are trying to understand the relationship between tempo and mode of evolution in relation to biogeography, speciation, and morphological diversification. You can learn more about our work through our publications or by taking a look at some news articles on our findings.