Wolfgang Wüster (born 1964) is a
herpetologist
Herpetology (from Ancient Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is a branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, salamanders, and caecilians (Gymnophiona)) and reptiles (in ...
and Professor in
Zoology
Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the anatomy, structure, embryology, Biological classification, classification, Ethology, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinction, extinct, and ...
at
Bangor University
Bangor University () is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales. It was established by Royal charter, Royal Charter in 1885 as the University College of North Wales (UCNW; ), and in 1893 ...
, UK.
Wüster attained his bachelor's degree at the
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
in 1985 and his doctorate at the
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen (abbreviated ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; ) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bis ...
in 1990. His primary areas of research are the systematics and
ecology
Ecology () is the natural science of the relationships among living organisms and their Natural environment, environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community (ecology), community, ecosystem, and biosphere lev ...
of
venomous snake
''Venomous snakes'' are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow ...
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 180 scientific papers on varying
herpetological 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''.
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'' Slowinski & Wüster 2000.
* ''
Drymarchon caudomaculatus'' Wüster, Yrausquin & Mijares-Urrutia 2001.
* ''
Lycodon cardamomensis'' Daltry & Wüster 2002.
* ''
Naja nubiae'' Wüster & Broadley 2003.
* ''
Naja ashei'' Wüster & Broadley 2007.
* ''
Naja senegalensis'' Trape, Chirio & Wüster 2009.
* Subgenus ''
Afronaja'' Wallach, Wüster & Broadley 2009.
* ''
Acanthophis cryptamydros'' Maddock, Ellis, Doughty, Smith & Wüster 2015.
* ''
Naja guineensis'' Broadley, Trape, Chirio, Ineich & Wüster 2018.
* ''
Naja savannula'' Broadley, Trape, Chirio & Wüster 2018.
* ''
Hemachatus nyangensis'' Reissig, Major, Renk, Barlow, Paijmans, Morris, Hofreiter, Broadley & Wüster 2023.
* ''
Ophiophagus salvatana'' Gowri Shankar, Das & Wüster 2024.
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
Academics of Bangor University
{{UK-zoologist-stub