Villanova University was founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine. To this day, Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition is the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. Villanova prepares students to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.


The strength of the Villanova experience comes in part from the University’s welcoming community. All members are bonded together by a shared responsibility to uphold the ideals of Saint Augustine and let the principles of truth, unity and love guide their lives. The Villanova community helps students grow intellectually, professionally and spiritually, and challenges them to reach their full potential.


The University’s rigorous academic experience, rooted in the liberal arts, forms an environment in which students and professors are partners in learning. The Villanova community is dedicated to providing a personalized experience that fosters every student’s intellectual and spiritual well-being. As part of their education, students are encouraged to enrich their own lives by working for those in need. Through academic and service programs, students use their knowledge, skills and compassion to better the world around them.


There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. These colleges are the setting for an experience that develops both the heart and the mind, and creates the atmosphere where students are called to ignite change.


Villanova University is located in a suburban community 12 miles west of Philadelphia, Pa.

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For "The Curious Mister Catesby: A 'truly ingenious" naturalist explores new world

The Council on Botanical or Horticultural Libraries 2016 Annual Literature Award for a Significant Work in Botanical or Hoticultural Literature

For "Phylogeny, taxonomy, and biogeography of a cicum-Indian Ocean clade of leaf-toed geckos (Reptili: Gekkota), with a description of two new genera)"

Systematics and Biodiversity 2014 Outstanding Paper of the Yea Award

Graduate Alumni Founder's Award

Villanova Outstanding Research Award

Emerald Award for Environmental Excellence

Honorary Fellow, California Academy of Sciences

American Association for Zoological Nomenclature

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

Bombay Natural History Society

British, Canadian, Chicago, Japanese, Maryland and New Zealand  Herpetological Societies

International Society for the History and Bibliography of Herpetology

Pacific Science Association

Sigma Xi

Society for the History of Natural History

Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

World Congress of Herpetology

Zoological Society of London 

Zoological Society of Southern Africa

Associate in Herpetology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University

Extraoridnary Professor in Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

Description of a new species of the genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Nilgala Savannah forest, Uva Province of Sri Lanka

A new species of African snake-eyed skink (Scincidae: Panaspis) from central and northern Namibia

A new earless species of Poyntonophrynus (Anura, Bufonidae) from the Serra da Neve Inselberg, Namibe Province, Angola.

Mid-Cretaceous amber fossils illuminate the past diversity of tropical lizards

Q: How do geckos walk across ceilings? A: Millions of hair-like setae on each foot.Q: Where do geckos come from? A: Throughout the world. Usually where it’s warm.Q: How many species of geckos are there? A: Close to 1,500 and counting!Q: What do they eat? A: Insects mostly. Discover the biology, natural history, and diversity of geckos―the acrobatic little lizards made famous by a car insurance ad campaign. Lizard biologist and gecko expert Aaron Bauer answers deceptively simple questions with surprising and little-known facts. Readers can explore color photographs that reveal the natural wonder and beauty of the gecko form and are further informed by images of how geckos live in their natural habitats. Although written for nonexperts, Geckos also provides a carefully selected bibliography and a new list of all known species that will be of interest to herpetologists. Anyone who owns a gecko, has seen them in the wild, or has wondered about them will appreciate this gem of a book.

Geckos: The Animal Answer Guide (The Animal Answer Guides: Q&amp;A for the Curious Naturalist)

Amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna) are a significant but much-neglected component of the natural economy of the province of Alberta. This second edition, which continues both as a field guide and a comprehensive natural history, builds on the strengths of the first with a richly illustrated text and colour photographs of the species taken by renowned wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch. The award-winning first edition received recognition in the Emerald Awards for Environmental Excellence. This second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated. Nomenclature has been changed to reflect current thinking in the field. New photographs have been added, and maps and illustrations have been updated.

The Amphibians and Reptiles of Alberta

An internationally renowned herpetologist, Professor Bauer has described more new species of reptile than any other living scientist, including over seven percent of the more than 1,600 living geckos. He was part of an international team of scientists that, in 2017 completed the ‘atlas of life’ – the first global review and map of every vertebrate on Earth. His decades of field work in 29 countries, principally in the deserts of Africa, Asia and Australia, have identified patterns of distribution, documented the diversity of reptile species, and identified areas where conservation action is vital. Bauer is the go-to source for information about reptiles, especially geckos, which are his specialty.

Reptiles

Vertebrate Morphology

Systematics

Biogeography

Natural History Collections

Villanova Biology Professor Dr. Aaron Bauer Discusses his Life’s Work Studying, and Discovering, Geckos and Other Reptiles

ResearchGate.net

Wikimedia.org

AcademicTree.org

Google Scholar

Mildly Menacing Mating Calls Lead to Discovery of New Gecko Species

Meet Dozens of Gecko Species at a Tiny Brooklyn Zoo

This tiny Florida gecko is disappearing—can we save it before it’s too late?

This new species is called the van Gogh gecko. The reason why is a work of art.

DNA has revealed the origin of this giant ‘mystery’ gecko

Earless African pygmy toad discovered on remote mountain in Angola

Skin-ditching gecko inexplicably leaves body armor behind when threatened

New Family Of Gecko Discovered

How sticky toepads evolved in geckos and what that means for adhesive technologies

Photo of Aaron Bauer with lizard specimens

Aaron Bauer with lizard specimens

Aaron Bauer, reptile expert, Villanova

Aaron Bauer, Reptile Expert, Villanova University

OPUS: Diversity and Comparative Biology of Geckos

Digitizing Southwestern African Herpetological Collections, JRS Biodiversity Foundation

Thomas Barbour Fund for Field Research

Collaborative Research: Quantifying climate-forced extinction risks for lizards, amphibians, fishes, plants

DEB-1019443

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Professor and Gerald M. Lemole Endowed Chair in Integrative Biology

Every third Friday in May, the United States celebrates Endangered Species Day—a day set aside to draw attention to and share the importance of wildlife conservation and restoration efforts for all imperiled species. Aaron Bauer, PhD, a professor of biology at Villanova University, holds the record for identifying and naming the most species of gecko found on the planet. Dr. Bauer reinforces the importance of the “national day,” pointing out that, “it is too easy for most people to forget about endangered species, especially when the state of human affairs is so pressing. Having a day to focus society on this particular problem is a good reminder that we are not alone on Earth.”

Dr. Bauer wants to use Endangered Species Day in 2021 to bring attention to species that people might not realize are endangered. He observes that “the tendency is for people to focus on the big charismatic organisms, like tigers, gorillas and whales. However, there are endangered species in every group of animals, plants and even fungi. These do not get enough attention because they lack the mass appeal of pandas and parrots, but raising awareness in general can help by generating support for agencies and projects devoted more broadly to conservation.”

So, which animals need our care and attention this Endangered Species Day? 

“Scientists have become aware that amphibians, like frogs and salamanders, are in decline around the world,” says Bauer. “More than 30 years of research has demonstrated widespread declines, and today more than a third of their 7,000-plus species are threatened or endangered. Many more are too poorly known to even assess their conservation status. Many reptiles are likely in the same situation.” 

According to Dr. Bauer, some animals are so under-studied, scientists can’t be sure which species are becoming endangered. “We know that many turtles and nearly all crocodilians are endangered, but we don’t know much about the situation for lizards and snakes, which make up the vast majority of the 11,000-plus reptile species (especially because snakes are much maligned in popular culture).”

So, how, with only one day of focus, can the average person make a difference for endangered species? Dr. Bauer recommends “starting them young.” He calls activities at zoos and other public outreach organizations “a wise investment of energy as kids that grow up knowing and caring about environmental issues, including endangered species, are likely to continue to care and to pass on their views in adulthood.”

“Endangered Species Day is a reminder that a large percentage of the world’s biota is imperiled and, as stewards of the planet, it is our responsibility to try to improve their situation,” said Dr. Bauer. “Especially since we are mostly responsible for their current plight.”



#SaveThePandas… and Save the Snakes, Too!

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