Javier Abalos
@abalosaurus.bsky.social
I cannot be reborn as a velociraptor, but I can study lizard behaviour and coloration. Close enough.
Pinned
Javier Abalos
@abalosaurus.bsky.social
· Sep 29
Cryptic Ontogenetic Changes in the Ventral Coloration of a Color Polymorphic Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Wall lizards' ventral coloration undergoes cryptic ontogenetic color changes invisible without UV vision. We tracked wall lizards from hatching to one year of age. Spectrophotometry and visual modeli...
doi.org
🧪 New paper out! Growing up, wall lizards undergo a UV-visible “awkward phase” (who doesn’t?) that we can’t see—but they can. These ontogenetic color changes may mediate juvenile–adult interactions by delaying the onset of adult social signals. doi.org/10.1002/jez.... #colsci #lizard #ontogeny
Se acaba de publicar cierto artículo de la ganadora del I concurso de comunicación científica de la @ucciuv.bsky.social, @bartolomealicia.bsky.social #ciencia #divulgacion #reptiles #bienestaranimal
theconversation.com/reptiles-los...
theconversation.com/reptiles-los...
Reptiles, los grandes olvidados: cómo mejorar su bienestar ayuda a cambiar su mala imagen
Tenemos una percepción estereotipada de los reptiles como animales extraños y poco inteligentes que no se corresponde con la realidad y que puede influir en el trato deficiente que reciben en cautivid...
theconversation.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Se acaba de publicar cierto artículo de la ganadora del I concurso de comunicación científica de la @ucciuv.bsky.social, @bartolomealicia.bsky.social #ciencia #divulgacion #reptiles #bienestaranimal
theconversation.com/reptiles-los...
theconversation.com/reptiles-los...
Today I found out that the sex pheromones of Aplysia (a genus of extremely large sea slugs) are called:
• Enticin 🌶️
• Attractin 👁️🫦👁️
• Temptin 🌺
• Seductin 🔥
And I find that wonderful. Please vote for your favorite. Credits to Trystam Wyatt's book on Pheromones and Animal Behavior.
#ethology
• Enticin 🌶️
• Attractin 👁️🫦👁️
• Temptin 🌺
• Seductin 🔥
And I find that wonderful. Please vote for your favorite. Credits to Trystam Wyatt's book on Pheromones and Animal Behavior.
#ethology
October 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Today I found out that the sex pheromones of Aplysia (a genus of extremely large sea slugs) are called:
• Enticin 🌶️
• Attractin 👁️🫦👁️
• Temptin 🌺
• Seductin 🔥
And I find that wonderful. Please vote for your favorite. Credits to Trystam Wyatt's book on Pheromones and Animal Behavior.
#ethology
• Enticin 🌶️
• Attractin 👁️🫦👁️
• Temptin 🌺
• Seductin 🔥
And I find that wonderful. Please vote for your favorite. Credits to Trystam Wyatt's book on Pheromones and Animal Behavior.
#ethology
Reposted by Javier Abalos
🦎THREAD: We just published something wild in @asn-amnat.bsky.social - lizards missing entire limbs not only survive, but some appear to actually thrive in the wild?!
Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴☠️
[Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ]
(1/n)
Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴☠️
[Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ]
(1/n)
October 14, 2025 at 1:52 PM
🦎THREAD: We just published something wild in @asn-amnat.bsky.social - lizards missing entire limbs not only survive, but some appear to actually thrive in the wild?!
Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴☠️
[Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ]
(1/n)
Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴☠️
[Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ]
(1/n)
Check this piece published on @theguardian.com featuring the awesome work of an international team (pics by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social lens) on butterflies 🦋 coloration and deforestation 🌲🪓 in the Amazon
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours
The insects’ brilliant hues evolved in lush ecosystems to help them survive. Now they are becoming more muted to adapt to degraded landscapes – and they are not the only things dulling down
www.theguardian.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Check this piece published on @theguardian.com featuring the awesome work of an international team (pics by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social lens) on butterflies 🦋 coloration and deforestation 🌲🪓 in the Amazon
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Javier Abalos
Reposted by Javier Abalos
Round 4 of surveys for the Mt Lyell #salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus). We were able to sample 7 salamanders this time, including a juvenile! #herpetology #herps #amphibians
August 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Round 4 of surveys for the Mt Lyell #salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus). We were able to sample 7 salamanders this time, including a juvenile! #herpetology #herps #amphibians
Reposted by Javier Abalos
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
September 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Many wall lizards briefly sport bright blue tails as predator decoys after hatching. Our new study shows their throats and bellies also change color, yet at wavelengths invisible to humans! Could other species, too, undergo such cryptic shifts?
@uv.es @ucciuv.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/4rjfmde9
🧪🦎
@uv.es @ucciuv.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/4rjfmde9
🧪🦎
October 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Many wall lizards briefly sport bright blue tails as predator decoys after hatching. Our new study shows their throats and bellies also change color, yet at wavelengths invisible to humans! Could other species, too, undergo such cryptic shifts?
@uv.es @ucciuv.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/4rjfmde9
🧪🦎
@uv.es @ucciuv.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/4rjfmde9
🧪🦎
Reposted by Javier Abalos
Thrilled to see *National Geographic* highlight the wall lizards living in Cincinnati and our research on these little guys!
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
#WalliesWorld
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
#WalliesWorld
10 lizards were smuggled into Cincinnati in a sock. Now there are tens of thousands.
Native to Europe, common wall lizards are growing bigger, faster, and more resilient in Ohio. Scientists say the city itself may be driving their evolution.
www.nationalgeographic.com
March 6, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Thrilled to see *National Geographic* highlight the wall lizards living in Cincinnati and our research on these little guys!
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
#WalliesWorld
www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
#WalliesWorld
Reposted by Javier Abalos
Watch #BiologyLetters author Avery Maune talk about new research revealing that urbanization can reshape social behaviour in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis): cassyni.com/events/3Hp2U... #AnimalBehaviour #ethology
September 30, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Watch #BiologyLetters author Avery Maune talk about new research revealing that urbanization can reshape social behaviour in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis): cassyni.com/events/3Hp2U... #AnimalBehaviour #ethology
Protección frente al alarmismo agrario: la tortuga mora, rehén del ruido político en la Región de Murcia www.eldiario.es/1_c103ac?utm...
Protección frente al alarmismo agrario: la tortuga mora, rehén del ruido político en la Región de Murcia
El plan de conservación de esta especie ha encendido un fuego cruzado en el campo: mientras científicos y ecologistas reclaman medidas urgentes para salvarla, Vox agita el miedo entre los agricultores...
www.eldiario.es
October 4, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Protección frente al alarmismo agrario: la tortuga mora, rehén del ruido político en la Región de Murcia www.eldiario.es/1_c103ac?utm...
Reposted by Javier Abalos
ESTO ES IMPORTANTÍSIMO
Euskadi suspende la campaña de la pesca de la angula ante la situación crítica de la especie
Un paso crucial para lo conservación de la anguila, tomada en el territorio donde su consumo tiene más arraigo
@miteco.gob.es y otras CCAA, os toca
www.europapress.es/euskadi/noti...
Euskadi suspende la campaña de la pesca de la angula ante la situación crítica de la especie
Un paso crucial para lo conservación de la anguila, tomada en el territorio donde su consumo tiene más arraigo
@miteco.gob.es y otras CCAA, os toca
www.europapress.es/euskadi/noti...
Gobierno Vasco suspende la campaña de la pesca de la angula de 2025-2026 ante la situación "crítica" de la especie
El Departamento de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca del Gobierno Vasco se ha reunido...
www.europapress.es
October 3, 2025 at 9:34 AM
ESTO ES IMPORTANTÍSIMO
Euskadi suspende la campaña de la pesca de la angula ante la situación crítica de la especie
Un paso crucial para lo conservación de la anguila, tomada en el territorio donde su consumo tiene más arraigo
@miteco.gob.es y otras CCAA, os toca
www.europapress.es/euskadi/noti...
Euskadi suspende la campaña de la pesca de la angula ante la situación crítica de la especie
Un paso crucial para lo conservación de la anguila, tomada en el territorio donde su consumo tiene más arraigo
@miteco.gob.es y otras CCAA, os toca
www.europapress.es/euskadi/noti...
Aquí podéis encontrar una nota de prensa sobre nuestro ultimo artículo. Muchas gracias al equipo de @ucciuv.bsky.social
#divulgacion #lagartijas #color #desarrollo
www.uv.es/uvweb/univer...
#divulgacion #lagartijas #color #desarrollo
www.uv.es/uvweb/univer...
Universidad de Valencia
La UV, fundada en 1499, es una de las universidades más antiguas de España. Es una universidad pública, moderna e innovadora orientada a la docencia y a la investigación en casi todos los ámbitos del ...
www.uv.es
September 30, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Aquí podéis encontrar una nota de prensa sobre nuestro ultimo artículo. Muchas gracias al equipo de @ucciuv.bsky.social
#divulgacion #lagartijas #color #desarrollo
www.uv.es/uvweb/univer...
#divulgacion #lagartijas #color #desarrollo
www.uv.es/uvweb/univer...
Reposted by Javier Abalos
📖Published📖
Roemer et al. propose a comprehensive evaluation of the limits and possibilities of passive acoustic monitoring of bats, identifying knowledge gaps and practice barriers, and highlighting novel ideas that may revolutionise practices🦇👇
buff.ly/l8DGN7X
🌍 🧪
Roemer et al. propose a comprehensive evaluation of the limits and possibilities of passive acoustic monitoring of bats, identifying knowledge gaps and practice barriers, and highlighting novel ideas that may revolutionise practices🦇👇
buff.ly/l8DGN7X
🌍 🧪
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
📖Published📖
Roemer et al. propose a comprehensive evaluation of the limits and possibilities of passive acoustic monitoring of bats, identifying knowledge gaps and practice barriers, and highlighting novel ideas that may revolutionise practices🦇👇
buff.ly/l8DGN7X
🌍 🧪
Roemer et al. propose a comprehensive evaluation of the limits and possibilities of passive acoustic monitoring of bats, identifying knowledge gaps and practice barriers, and highlighting novel ideas that may revolutionise practices🦇👇
buff.ly/l8DGN7X
🌍 🧪
Reposted by Javier Abalos
After a lot of time spent in the darkness of the wind tunnel, the results finally see the light.
I'm very excited to share what will become the first chapter of my thesis.
Energy conversion efficiency peaks at intermediate flight speed in a migratory songbird www.cell.com/current-biol...
I'm very excited to share what will become the first chapter of my thesis.
Energy conversion efficiency peaks at intermediate flight speed in a migratory songbird www.cell.com/current-biol...
Energy conversion efficiency peaks at intermediate flight speed in a migratory songbird
Using in vivo measurements of thrush nightingales flying in a wind tunnel, Macias-Torres
et al. show that energy conversion efficiency varies with airspeed following a concave
function, with a maximum...
www.cell.com
June 5, 2025 at 6:20 AM
After a lot of time spent in the darkness of the wind tunnel, the results finally see the light.
I'm very excited to share what will become the first chapter of my thesis.
Energy conversion efficiency peaks at intermediate flight speed in a migratory songbird www.cell.com/current-biol...
I'm very excited to share what will become the first chapter of my thesis.
Energy conversion efficiency peaks at intermediate flight speed in a migratory songbird www.cell.com/current-biol...
🧪 New paper out! Growing up, wall lizards undergo a UV-visible “awkward phase” (who doesn’t?) that we can’t see—but they can. These ontogenetic color changes may mediate juvenile–adult interactions by delaying the onset of adult social signals. doi.org/10.1002/jez.... #colsci #lizard #ontogeny
Cryptic Ontogenetic Changes in the Ventral Coloration of a Color Polymorphic Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Wall lizards' ventral coloration undergoes cryptic ontogenetic color changes invisible without UV vision. We tracked wall lizards from hatching to one year of age. Spectrophotometry and visual modeli...
doi.org
September 29, 2025 at 8:42 AM
🧪 New paper out! Growing up, wall lizards undergo a UV-visible “awkward phase” (who doesn’t?) that we can’t see—but they can. These ontogenetic color changes may mediate juvenile–adult interactions by delaying the onset of adult social signals. doi.org/10.1002/jez.... #colsci #lizard #ontogeny
333 wolf packs in Spain, 12% increase from the previous census (>10y ago). Sadly, local governments are approving 20% culls (targeting adult mothers for extra damage, ofc). The official excuse: preventing food waste. I kid you not. #lobovivo #loboprotegido #wolf
elpais.com/clima-y-medi...
elpais.com/clima-y-medi...
El nuevo censo del lobo detecta 333 manadas en España, un aumento de 36 que no garantiza su futuro
Lejos de los 500 grupos necesarios para que sea viable genéticamente, el ministerio asegura que la especie está en “estado desfavorable” y que no se debería estar cazando
elpais.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:47 PM
333 wolf packs in Spain, 12% increase from the previous census (>10y ago). Sadly, local governments are approving 20% culls (targeting adult mothers for extra damage, ofc). The official excuse: preventing food waste. I kid you not. #lobovivo #loboprotegido #wolf
elpais.com/clima-y-medi...
elpais.com/clima-y-medi...
Reposted by Javier Abalos
It's out! Read about how to combine advanced animal vision modelling and colour pattern analysis with comparative phylogenetic methods in arguably some of the most incredible critters in the ocean: doi.org/10.1111/1365....
Amazing work with amazing people! #colsci #micaToolbox #AnimalEcology
Amazing work with amazing people! #colsci #micaToolbox #AnimalEcology
Diel activity correlates with colour pattern morphology of heterobranch sea slugs
The authors show that daytime activity fundamentally shapes the appearance of prey animals to potential predators and that colour pattern phenotypes likely associated with visual signalling are predo....
doi.org
April 16, 2025 at 8:14 AM
It's out! Read about how to combine advanced animal vision modelling and colour pattern analysis with comparative phylogenetic methods in arguably some of the most incredible critters in the ocean: doi.org/10.1111/1365....
Amazing work with amazing people! #colsci #micaToolbox #AnimalEcology
Amazing work with amazing people! #colsci #micaToolbox #AnimalEcology
La osadía de llamar cobarde a un toro (un animal social y doméstico) por rehuir el maltrato en la plaza. Pobre Antonio, quiere que los toros pongan de su parte en su sangriento espectáculo amañado. La tauromaquia, como los gladiadores: mejor en el cine y los cuadros, donde nadie sufre @elpais.com
May 17, 2025 at 5:18 AM
La osadía de llamar cobarde a un toro (un animal social y doméstico) por rehuir el maltrato en la plaza. Pobre Antonio, quiere que los toros pongan de su parte en su sangriento espectáculo amañado. La tauromaquia, como los gladiadores: mejor en el cine y los cuadros, donde nadie sufre @elpais.com
Reposted by Javier Abalos
Remember when you first learned about genetics at school? All those fascinating examples of human traits that are each apparently determined by just a single gene? Time to check in on some of your favourites to see how they’re doing. 🧬🧵🧪 1/n
May 2, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Remember when you first learned about genetics at school? All those fascinating examples of human traits that are each apparently determined by just a single gene? Time to check in on some of your favourites to see how they’re doing. 🧬🧵🧪 1/n
Reposted by Javier Abalos
Practical advice on variable selection and reporting using Akaike information criterion: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... #ProcB #ecology
April 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Practical advice on variable selection and reporting using Akaike information criterion: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... #ProcB #ecology
Reposted by Javier Abalos
📸Capturing Ecology 2025 is OPEN
⭐️Our renowned photography competition is back for another year, showcasing stories of ecological triumph, challenge and resilience.
📷@rgarciaroa.bsky.social
⭐️Our renowned photography competition is back for another year, showcasing stories of ecological triumph, challenge and resilience.
📷@rgarciaroa.bsky.social
April 16, 2025 at 1:03 PM
📸Capturing Ecology 2025 is OPEN
⭐️Our renowned photography competition is back for another year, showcasing stories of ecological triumph, challenge and resilience.
📷@rgarciaroa.bsky.social
⭐️Our renowned photography competition is back for another year, showcasing stories of ecological triumph, challenge and resilience.
📷@rgarciaroa.bsky.social
Free-roaming cats threaten island biodiversity, yet countries like Spain and Italy only permit trap-neuter-release. While the authors offer valuable tools to improve management, persistent myths like “neutered cats don’t hunt” remain. No wonder Maltese lizards are vanishing—kudos to the authors!
April 16, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Free-roaming cats threaten island biodiversity, yet countries like Spain and Italy only permit trap-neuter-release. While the authors offer valuable tools to improve management, persistent myths like “neutered cats don’t hunt” remain. No wonder Maltese lizards are vanishing—kudos to the authors!
Reposted by Javier Abalos
🚨 We're hiring!
Fully funded Postdoc(s) in Systems Biology at Stockholm University & SciLifeLab — focus on predictive modeling in evolution and development.
📍 Stockholm
🕒 2+1 years
🔍 Details: su.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Please share!
Fully funded Postdoc(s) in Systems Biology at Stockholm University & SciLifeLab — focus on predictive modeling in evolution and development.
📍 Stockholm
🕒 2+1 years
🔍 Details: su.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Please share!
Postdoctoral Fellow in Evolutionary Prediction
The Department of Zoology is one of the departments within the Faculty of Science and has approximately 80 employees including researchers, PhD students, and administrative staff. Research and educati
su.varbi.com
April 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
🚨 We're hiring!
Fully funded Postdoc(s) in Systems Biology at Stockholm University & SciLifeLab — focus on predictive modeling in evolution and development.
📍 Stockholm
🕒 2+1 years
🔍 Details: su.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Please share!
Fully funded Postdoc(s) in Systems Biology at Stockholm University & SciLifeLab — focus on predictive modeling in evolution and development.
📍 Stockholm
🕒 2+1 years
🔍 Details: su.varbi.com/en/what:job/...
Please share!
Gracias por esta nota de prensa sobre nuestro último artículo, que incluye retrato de los hombres-lagarto iridiscentes de la UV!
Link: zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#colsci #herpetology #lizard #visualmodels #sensoryecology #spectrophotometry
Link: zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#colsci #herpetology #lizard #visualmodels #sensoryecology #spectrophotometry
April 15, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Gracias por esta nota de prensa sobre nuestro último artículo, que incluye retrato de los hombres-lagarto iridiscentes de la UV!
Link: zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#colsci #herpetology #lizard #visualmodels #sensoryecology #spectrophotometry
Link: zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#colsci #herpetology #lizard #visualmodels #sensoryecology #spectrophotometry