Toby Hibbitts

Toby Hibbitts is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. He serves as the Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles at the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collection and is a Research Scientist at the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. His work focuses on amphibian and reptile ecology, conservation, and taxonomy, with an emphasis on natural history, behavior, and habitat use.

Education:

• B.S. in Biology, Midwestern State University
• M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University
• Ph.D. in Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, University of the Witwatersrand

Research Interests: Dr. Hibbitts investigates amphibian and reptile conservation, habitat fragmentation effects, and species-specific ecological adaptations. His projects include camera trap surveys for secretive species, genomic analyses of phylogenetic relationships, and conservation translocation strategies for endangered taxa. He emphasizes applying ecological data to inform conservation decisions.

Articles Overview: His recent work explores habitat use patterns of Texas Alligator Lizards, camera trap methodologies for snake communities, and genomic studies resolving evolutionary relationships among earless lizards. He also addresses conservation challenges for species like the Alligator Snapping Turtle and Western Chicken Turtle.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collection and Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, advancing conservation efforts through interdisciplinary approaches.