Mark D. Scherz

Mark D. Scherz is an Associate Professor at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen. His work focuses on evolutionary biology, taxonomy, and herpetofauna of Madagascar, integrating molecular and morphological approaches.

• ERC Starting Grant (GEMINI) for vertebrate miniaturization genomics
• Co-PI on DFG Taxon-OMICS grant
• Develops integrative taxonomic methods using micro-CT and museomics

Research Interests:
Specializes in the evolutionary dynamics of giant pseudo-island systems like Madagascar, investigating macroevolution, convergent evolution, and speciation. Key projects include:

• Phylogenetic analysis of microhylid and mantellid frogs
• Comparative osteology of miniaturized vertebrates
• Biofluorescence mechanisms in geckos and chameleons
• Biogeographic patterns in Malagasy reptiles/amphibians

Publication Trends:

• Recent work emphasizes cross-disciplinary approaches (2025: skull morphology in snakes; 2024: amphibian genomics)
• 2021 studies on fluorescence and miniaturization
• Long-term taxonomic revisions of amphibians (2019-2024)

Scientific Awards:

• ERC Starting Grant (2025)
• DFG Priority Programme participant (Taxon-OMICS)

Collaborations:
Works closely with Miguel Vences (Technical University of Braunschweig) and Frank Glaw (Bavarian State Collection of Zoology), focusing on Malagasy amphibians and reptiles.