Robert C. Drewes
 B.
A. San Francisco State University (1969); Ph.D. University of California,
Los Angeles (1981). Assistant Director, Nairobi Snake Park, National Museums
of Kenya (1969-70); Senior Curatorial Assistant, advancing in rank to
Curator (1970-present); NSF Visiting Scholar, Harvard University (1983),
University of Kansas (1984); Research Associate, National Museums of Kenya
(1970- ); Research Associate, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
(1996- ). Research Professor of Biology, San Francisco State University;
Affiliate Professor of Biology, University of Idaho; Fellow, Royal Geographical
Society, California Academy of Sciences, California Institute of International
Studies (Stanford University 1989- ); National CITES Standing Committee,
Kenya Wildlife Service, Board of Directors, Biodiversity Foundation for
Africa (Zimbabwe) .
My research interests and goals are heavily influenced by an abiding
fascination with the ancient continent of Africa, where there are lifetimes
of unanswered questions and where I conduct virtually all of my field
work. I have spent over 40 field months in 30 different African countries
since 1969.
My basic training is in systematics and earlier work includes a major
generic revision of the Hyperoliidae, the dominant treefrog of Africa,
the Seychelles and Madagascar. I use all repeatable information available
including morphological, bioacoustical, behavioral and molecular data
to assess evolutionary relationships based on the principles of phylogenetic
systematics.
I am also very interested in the comparative physiology of frogs adapted
for life in arid environments. During the past 20 years we have learned
that a surprising number of frogs exhibit very low rates of evaporative
water loss and can tolerate extremely high temperatures; some even excrete
uric acid in the manner of birds and reptiles. Several of these frogs
are African, and I am trying to understand the processes involved in these
adaptations, especially the mechanism responsible for the animals' impermeable
skin. In recent years my experiences in the African bush have led me to
pursue ecological and behavioral projects as well.
Drewes, R.C., S. S. Hillman, R. W. Putnam & O. Sokol. 1977. Water,
nitrogen and ion balance in the desert treefrog Chiromantis petersi
Boulenger (Anura: Rhacophoridae) with comments on the structure of the
integument. J. Comp. Physiol. 116(39): 257-267.(www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/frogs/list10.html)
Drewes, R.C. 1984. A phylogenetic analysis of the Hyperoliidae (Anura):
treefrogs of Africa, Madagascar and the Seychelles Islands. Proc. Calif.
Acad. Sci. 139: 1- 70.
Drewes, R. C. 1985. A case of paraphyly in the genus Kassina Girard,
1853. S. Afr. J. Sci. 81(4): 186- 191.
(www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/frogs/list13.html)
Drewes, R. C. & J. V. Vindum. 1994. Amphibians of the Impenetrable
Forest, southwest Uganda. J. Afr. Zool. 108:55-70.
(www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/frogs/frogsimp/)
Drewes, R. C. & R. Altig. 1996. Anuran egg predation and heterocannibalism
in a breeding community of East African frogs. Trop. Zool. 9:333-347.
(www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/frogs/newres.htm)
Drewes, R. C. 1997. A new species of treefrog from the Serengeti National
Park, Tanzania (Anura: Hyperoliidae: Hyperolius). Proc. Calif. Acad.
Sci. 49: 439-446.
(www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/frogs/serengetifrog.htm)
Wieczorek, A. M., A. Channing & R. C. Drewes. 1998. A review
of the taxonomy of the Hyperolius viridiflavus complex. Herp. J.
8:29-34.
(www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/frogs/list21.html)
Drewes, R. C., Wilkinson, J. A. 2004. The California Academy of Sciences
Gulf of Guinea Expedition (2001) I. The Taxonomic Status of the Genus Nesionixalus
Perret, 1976 (Anura: Hyperoliidae), Treefrogs of São Tomé and
Príncipe, with Comments on the Genus Hyperolius. (http://www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/frogs/Drewes_Wilkinson_55-20_LR.pdf)
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