Hello! Super niche question and if anyone wants to guide me through this neat project, please reply! If love to hear from you!

I am beginning research for an art project. It is a series on tortoises and the concept involves determining tortoise shell colour expressions resulting from environment factors. I will be trying my best to depict a story over the course of a turtles life dependant on specific areas and what occured during that time. Sounds fun and nerdy, right? I know there are many factors involved in the colouring of a tortoise shell, but I was hoping to receive some guidance on specifics. For example, does wildfire effect the shell? How? Does the shell colour go darker if they eat more/less of a certain food? Is there any real way to put these environmental stressors on a colour gradient?

Hoping for any info/resources, and thanks so much for your time

https://youtube.com/shorts/04FPuQlLfyg?feature=share

I've been reading biology textbooks since I was a kid and want to be a reptile educator, conservationist, and rehabber without getting a degree. I find it's not as easy to locate herp focused information and want to know if there's more than amazon has to offer.

I am a certified master herpetologist, but the course wasn't nearly as in depth as I'd like.

I'm also a reptile educator, a former caretaker at a nature center and soon to be assistant at a sanctuary/rescue. All of which is volunteer based as my area doesn't actually have much in the way of herpetology and I want to get every second i can out of it.

I'd like a comprehensive list of textbooks any of you have used or know of if there's anyone in this group with a degree. I'm interested in toxicology, behavior, biology, evolution, genetics, diversity, conservation, taxonomy, and ecology.

So anything involving any or all subjects, I don't mind if the books include amphibians, as they seem rather inextricable from reptiles at this point. Sorry if this is the wrong group, and thank you in advance.

Komodo dragons or crocs may all move towards a prey animal but it doesn't look like they cooperate.

As the title says I'm looking to become a herpetologist. I just recently found out this profession even existed and feel this is what I'm meant to do. I'm a 26 year old male with a girlfriend and 5 year old daughter to provide for. I have probably $16,000 of debt with a retail job that makes me around $2,400 a month. I don't pay rent as of now but will be soon maybe up to $1000. I have a HS diploma with 1 semester of community college (Not in biology). Haven't been to school in 5 years. I live in the Bay Area, California.

Knowing all this, is it even possible for me to become one? I don't know where to start. I have done a bit of research and from what I've gathered is I at least need a Bachelors Degree in Science, but is it possible with me working full time and trying to spend time with my family? What school would i go to? Is there a good online school i can find for a Bachelors Degree in Science? It's been awhile since I've been to school so I'm pretty book dumb at this point....

I have a friend who is thinking on going to school for herpetology and is really into herpetology in general. I would love to get her some good books or a good text book on the subject for christmas. Do any of you have any recommendations on a good book, series, author or text? Any recommendations on what not to get? I hope this is allowed and thanks for any help!

Hey everyone, I'm a herper and biology undergrad, going to grad school and doing my primary research on herps. However, I'm looking to pick up some research experience before grad school. Does anybody have any ideas on where I can find some options available? Anything near the Philadelphia area would also be super cool. Thanks.

Hi, herpetologists of Reddit! I would like to know if there are any colleges that offer graduation in Herpetology, since i've only seen oportunities of graduating in Biology and then becoming an Herpetologist. Thanks in advance!

Hello! We need to keep this subreddit alive! Please submit any post that is relevant to the science of herpetology. We have to make this community as good as it can be!