Crocodilian Collab Podcast

On this episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Marisa Tellez of the Crocodile Research Coalition in Belize.
We talk about crocodilian parasites, local and indigenous outreach, the mystery of the 'White Walker Crocodiles', and the IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group meeting in Morocco. 
 
For more information about Dr. Tellez's work, please visit
https://crocodileresearchcoalition.org/

In this episode Rom Whitaker returns to talk about his new memoir 'Snakes, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll', his time working with Bill Haast, human-snake conflict in India, and many more exciting topics
 
Notes from Rom
 
Agumbe Rainforest Research Station - where we do our king cobra work: https://www.agumberainforest.org
 
Our main king cobra man, Ajay Giri's exciting adventures: https://www.youtube.com/@AjayGiriKCEC/videos
 
Madras Crocodile Bank and Centre for Herpetology: https://www.madrascrocodilebank.org
 
Gharial Ecology Project links: https://www.instagram.com/gharialecologyproject/, https://www.facebook.com/GharialEcologyProject/
 
First World Congress on Snakes in Sri Lanka - October 1-4, 2026 - https://www.worldsnakes26.com/
 
And here is the banking information for anyone interested in supporting the Madras Crocodile Bank's Snakebite Mitigation Project - apologies, it's a wee bit cumbersome, but India has strict rules about receiving donations from abroad:
FCRA Registration No.: 075820118
Account Holder: Madras Crocodile Bank TrustBank Name: State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch (Branch Code: 00691)Bank Address: FCRA Division, 11 Parliament Street, New Delhi – 110001, IndiaAccount Number: 40103204057SWIFT Code: SBININBB104IFSC Code: SBIN0000691Account Currency: INR 

Dan and Casey talk with herpetology and conservation legend Rom Whitaker. Rom is the founder of the  Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Madras Snake Park. His work in conservation was instrumental in saving the Indian gharial as well as king cobras. 

Dan and Casey talk to PhD Candidate Sonnie Flores about her work on saltwater crocodile acoustic communication and behaviour. 
 
REFERENCES
Sonnie's PaperFlores, S.A., Dwyer, R.G., Parsons, S., Potvin, D.A., 2026. Roars, Rumbles, and Resonance: ASystematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Crocodylian Acoustic Signals. Ecology and Evolution 16,e72494. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72494
 
 
Formants and honesty in alligator acoustic signalsReber, S.A., Janisch, J., Torregrosa, K., Darlington, J., Vliet, K.A., Fitch, W.T., 2017. Formants providehonest acoustic cues to body size in American alligators. Scientific reports 7, 1–11.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01948-1
 
Reber, S.A., Nishimura, T., Janisch, J., Robertson, M., Fitch, W.T., 2015. A Chinese alligator in heliox:formant frequencies in a crocodilian. J Exp Biol 218, 2442–2447. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.119552
 
 
Potential individuality in alligator bellowsJensen, T.R., Anikin, A., Osvath, M., Reber, S.A., 2024. Knowing a fellow by their bellow: acousticindividuality in the bellows of the American alligator. Animal behaviour 207, 157–167.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.11.009
 
 
Call frequency decreases as hatchlings ageVergne, A.L., Avril, A., Martin, S., Mathevon, N., 2007. Parent-offspring communication in the Nilecrocodile Crocodylus niloticus: Do newborns’ calls show an individual signature? DieNaturwissenschaften 94, 49–54. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-006-0156-4
 
 
Sequences of courtship displays varies among species, but the elements that are displayed stay thesameGarrick, L.D., Lang, J.W., 1977. Social Signals and Behaviors of Adult Alligators and Crocodiles.American zoologist 17, 225–239. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/17.1.225
 
 
Crocodilians adjust signals due to habitat type – but evidence for this is conflicting as one paper supports this and the other does notDinets, V., 2013. Do individual crocodilians adjust their signaling to habitat structure? Ethology,ecology & evolution 25, 174–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2012.744358Dinets, V., 2013. Long-Distance Signaling in Crocodylia. Copeia 2013, 517–526.https://doi.org/10.1643/CE-12-125
 
 
Behaviours differ between captive and wild American alligatorsWalsh, Z.C., Olson, H., Clendening, M., Rycyk, A., 2022. Social Behavior Deficiencies in CaptiveAmerican Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 3,131–146. https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg3010011
 
 
Gharial pops show differences in individual identity and context based on temporal parametersAjji M, J., Lang, J.W., 2025. Gharial acoustic signaling: Novel underwater pops are temporally based,context-dependent, seasonally stable, male-specific, and individually distinctive. Journal of anatomy.https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.14171
 
 
Low frequency signals produced by the African dwarf crocodileStaniewicz, A., McCabe, G., Holderied, M., 2023. The low-frequency vocal repertoire of adult Africandwarf crocodiles. African Journal of Herpetology 1–16.https://doi.org/10.1080/21564574.2023.2237035

Dan and Casey introduce the show with an interview with Dan Carvalho himself. We talk about his life from working at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, to some adventures abroad, to his fascination with micro geckos.