Wolfgang Wüster (born 1964) is a

herpetologist Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and rept ...

and Reader in

zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...

Bangor University , former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007) , image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg , image_size = 250px , caption = Arms ...

, UK. Wüster attained his bachelor's degree at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

in 1985 and his doctorate at the

University of Aberdeen The University of Aberdeen ( sco, University o' 'Aiberdeen; abbreviated as ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; gd, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Sc ...

in 1990. His primary areas of research are the systematics and

ecology Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...

venomous snake Venomous snakes are Species (biology), species of the Suborder (biology), suborder Snake, Serpentes that are capable of producing Snake venom, venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The v ...

s and the evolution of their

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

s. He has authored approximately 150 scientific papers on varying

herpetological Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning " reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and r ...

subjects. Recent contributions have included descriptions of new species, especially of cobras, several studies into how natural selection drives the evolution of snake venoms, and demonstrating the likely vulnerability of Madagascar's native fauna to the skin toxins of the invasive Asian toad ''

Duttaphrynus melanostictus ''Duttaphrynus melanostictus'' is commonly called Asian common toad, Asian black-spined toad, Asian toad, black-spectacled toad, common Sunda toad, and Javanese toad. It is probably a complex of more than one true toad species that is widely d ...

''. He was the scientific editor for ''The Herpetological Journal'' (2002–2009), the scientific publication of the

British Herpetological Society The British Herpetological Society (BHS) is an international herpetological society based in the United Kingdom. The BHS is a non-profit organization with goals to support the conservation, education and captive care of reptiles and amphibians. ...

. He has participated in the description of the following taxa: * ''

Naja mandalayensis The Mandalay spitting cobra (''Naja mandalayensis''), also called the Burmese spitting cobra or Mandalay cobra, is a species of spitting cobra endemic to the dry zone in central Myanmar. Etymology ''Naja mandalayensis'' was first described by her ...

'' Slowinski & Wüster 2000. * '' Drymarchon caudomaculatus'' Wüster, Yrausquin & Mijares-Urrutia 2001. * ''

Lycodon cardamomensis ''Lycodon cardamomensis'', also known as the Cardamom Mountains wolf snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake found in south-western Cambodia and eastern Thailand. Etymology ''Lycodon cardamomensis'' is named for the Cardamom hills in s ...

'' Daltry & Wüster 2002. * ''

Naja nubiae The Nubian spitting cobra (''Naja nubiae'') is a species of spitting cobra native to Africa. Description A relatively small spitting cobra. Maximum recorded length 148 cm. Colour and pattern: Brownish-grey overall, scale bases and skin betwe ...

'' Wüster & Broadley 2003. * ''

Naja ashei ''Naja ashei'', commonly known as Ashe's spitting cobra or the giant spitting cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Africa. It is the world's largest species of spitting cobra. Etymology and tax ...

'' Wüster & Broadley 2007. * ''

Naja senegalensis The Senegalese cobra (''Naja senegalensis'') is a species of cobra in the genus ''Naja'' that is found in West Africa. This species was long thought to be identical to the Egyptian cobra (''Naja haje''), but morphological and genetic difference ...

'' Trape, Chirio & Wüster 2009. * Subgenus ''

Afronaja ''Naja'' is a genus of venomous elapid snakes commonly known as cobras (or "true cobras"). Members of the genus ''Naja'' are the most widespread and the most widely recognized as "true" cobras. Various species occur in regions throughout Afric ...

'' Wallach, Wüster & Broadley 2009. * ''

Acanthophis cryptamydros The Kimberley death adder (''Acanthophis cryptamydros'') is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae native to northwestern Australia. Richard Wells and Ross Wellington gave the Kimberley death adder its scientific name ''Acanthophis ...

'' Maddock, Ellis, Doughty, Smith & Wüster 2015. * '' Naja guineensis'' Broadley, Trape, Chirio, Ineich & Wüster 2018. * '' Naja savannula'' Broadley, Trape, Chirio & Wüster 2018.

References

External links

''The Herpetological Journal''British Herpetological Society
Alumni of the University of Cambridge Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Academics of the University of Wales Living people 1964 births {{UK-zoologist-stub