We are a group of student researchers affiliated with the Laboratory for Animal Behavior Research at San Diego State University, the Higham Biomechanics Laboratory at UC Riverside, and the Chiricahua Desert Museum. We conduct research on a variety of topics related to the behavior and conservation of terrestrial vertebrates (mainly small mammals and reptiles). A lot of our work is on interactions between predators and their prey, events that are central to the lives of most animals in nature. See publications and personnel for more details.

 

Some of our recent work on kangaroo rats has revealed an exciting universe of adaptation hidden in the split-second sliver of time in which rattlesnakes attempt to consume kangaroo rats by launching at them from hiding and injecting venom. Kangaroo rats earned the name “ninja rat” from their lightning quick evasive jumps and ability to re-orient themselves in mid-air, kick snakes out of the way, and then right themselves to land on their feet!  

 

Read more about our work and about kangaroo rats. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with additional videos we post.