Welcome to the wonderful world of amphibians and reptiles!

The Mapinguari Lab is a research group dedicated to understanding the diversity, evolution, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. The lab is based at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and is coordinated by Dr. Diego J. Santana.

​Our research seeks to understand how biodiversity is generated, structured, and maintained across space and time. We combine field expeditions, museum collections, ecological data, and genomic tools to investigate the evolutionary history and ecological interactions, with a strong focus on amphibians and reptiles.

At the Mapinguari Lab we study species diversity and taxonomy, phylogenetics and phylogeography, processes of speciation, community and trophic ecology, landscape genetics and biogeography, and the impacts of environmental change on biodiversity. Many of our projects also aim to translate evolutionary knowledge into practical conservation strategies for threatened species and ecosystems.

Our work connects fieldwork, museum science, and modern analytical approaches, often through international collaborations and multidisciplinary projects across the Neotropics and other regions of the world.
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We believe science grows stronger through collaboration, curiosity, and the diversity of ideas. Students, researchers, and collaborators from all backgrounds are welcome, and we are always open to new partnerships and research opportunities.

Welcome to the Mapinguari Lab!

Come work with us!

We supervise graduate students through the Graduate Program in Biodiversity at UNESP and the Graduate Programs in Animal Biology and Ecology & Conservation at UFMS, and we are affiliated with the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago.
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If you are interested in joining the Mapinguari Lab and working on evolution, biodiversity, and conservation of Neotropical herpetofauna, please get in touch. We are always excited to welcome motivated, curious, and collaborative scientists.