EOS & ASE Seminar series

Slithering Through Time: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Snake Research in Malaysia

Dr. Evan Quah Seng Huat, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Abstract: The talk will delve into the fascinating world of snake research in Malaysia. From historical studies that have shaped our understanding of local snake species, to the groundbreaking discoveries being made today, this talk highlights the crucial role of snakes in Malaysia's ecosystem, with a particular focus on taxonomy, diversity, and ecology. This talk traces the evolution of our understanding of Malaysia’s diverse snake fauna, from early taxonomic classifications to contemporary advances in species identification and systematics. We will explore the biogeographical patterns that shape snake distributions across the region, highlighting how Malaysia’s unique landscapes and ecosystems have influenced speciation. The talk will also touch on the ongoing challenges faced by herpetologist working in the region in uncovering cryptic species, the need for more concerted conservation efforts, and the latest advancements that are progressing the field into the future. Join us to uncover the secrets of Malaysia's serpentine inhabitants and the evolving field of snake research.

Bio:

Dr. Evan is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. His expertise is in the field of herpetology and he studies amphibians and reptiles in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It has been over a decade that he has been involved in this field, and his research interest is in the taxonomy, diversity, speciation and phylogeography of herpetofauna in this region. Among the ecosystems that he and his team take special interest in are montane and karst ecosystems that harbour high levels of endemism among their amphibians and reptiles. Apart from working locally in Malaysia, he also collaborates on research projects and conduct field work in neighbouring countries in the surrounding region such as China, Singapore, Cambodia and Myanmar. Together with his colleagues, they have discovered more than 50 species of amphibians and reptiles that were new to science around the region. He also serves as an associate editor for three international journals; the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology (since 2016), Zootaxa (since 2019) and Herpetological Conservation and Biology (since 2024). He is also one of the recipients of the inaugural Tony Whitten Conservation Prize in 2019 in recognition for his research and conservation work in karst ecosystems in Myanmar. He was also honored by his colleagues in 2020 who named a new species of Bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus evanquahi) after him for his contributions to the field of herpetology in Malaysia.