Frank Glaw

Dr. Frank Glaw serves as the Head of the Herpetology Section at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (Zoologische Staatssammlung München) in Munich, Germany. With decades of dedicated research, he has established himself as a world-leading expert on the amphibians and reptiles of Madagascar, with an extensive publication record spanning from the early 1990s to the present day.

Dr. Glaw's primary research focuses on the systematics, phylogeny, biogeography, and biodiversity of Malagasy herpetofauna. His work has resulted in the description of hundreds of new species across multiple taxonomic groups:

• Amphibians (particularly frogs of the family Mantellidae)
• Reptiles (including chameleons, geckos, skinks, and snakes)
• Higher taxonomic groups (genera and subfamilies)

His research demonstrates remarkable consistency in documenting Madagascar's extraordinary biodiversity, with particular emphasis on evolutionary relationships, morphological characteristics, and geographic distribution patterns. Dr. Glaw's collaborative approach is evident through his extensive co-authorship network, most notably with Miguel Vences, with whom he has described numerous species across decades of research.

Dr. Glaw's taxonomic work provides critical baseline data for conservation efforts across Madagascar, one of the world's most biodiverse yet threatened ecosystems. His descriptions of species like Brookesia micra (one of the world's smallest chameleons) and numerous critically endangered amphibians have drawn international attention to Madagascar's unique fauna and the urgent need for conservation action.