Herpetology
Craig Guyer
1987-2021
BS Humboldt State University
MS Idaho State University
PhD University of Miami
The Guyer era saw continued growth and diversification of the herpetological collections as well as its transition into the digital age. Born in Los Angeles, California, Craig began his biological explorations in the scrubby wilderness on the outskirts of Oceanside. He would go on to receive his BS from Humboldt State University in 1975 and his MS from Idaho State University in 1978, where he studied homing behavior in two species of western lizards. He then joined Jay Savage’s lab at the University of Southern California. During his doctoral studies, he was introduced to tropical herpetology during field work in Costa Rica, and to the eastern United States when he followed Dr. Savage to the University of Miami. Craig’s doctoral research explored aspects of the population biology and foraging behavior of the Ground Anole (Norops humilis) including the role of food availability in regulating population density. He graduated in 1986 with his PhD.
The newly minted Dr. Guyer was hired by Auburn University’s Department of Zoology and Wildlife Science in the Fall of 1987. This would mark his introduction to Alabama’s incredible biological diversity and the start of his tenure as curator of amphibians and reptiles. Craig would remain the curator of amphibians and reptiles throughout his career until his retirement in 2016 and he continues to serve the museum as Curator Emeritus of Amphibians and Reptiles.
As curator, Craig built upon Mount’s efforts, growing the specimen collection, developing new collections, and ushering the collections into the digital age. While the Guyer era saw the addition of thousands of new specimens, primarily from Alabama, the surrounding states and Costa Rica, it was the digitization of the existing collection and the establishment of new collections that mark the era. The herpetological tissue collection was established. It brought the collection into the genetic age and is now one of the most utilized herpetological resources. The photo voucher/digital collection was established in conjunction with the Alabama Herpetological Atlas Project. This citizen science project allowed the public to participate in collecting biodiversity data and filled in distribution gaps for Alabama’s amphibian and reptile species. Craig also established a collection of ecological databases which contain data on various species from multiple projects. These databases are maintained and made available to researchers.
Craig was a champion for the museum at the department and college level, always imparting the importance of the collections both for researchers and for the university. He was instrumental in the creation of the museum’s working plan, which brought in a fish curator and a plan to build a museum in the old Post Office Building in downtown Auburn. Although the plan for the museum building fell through, Craig helped to develop a new plan that eventually saw two moves of the collection, first to the Physiology Building in the early 2000’s and then to its current home in the newly constructed Biodiversity Learning Center in 2012. These moves were supported by US National Science Foundation grants in 2003 and 2010. He was also instrumental in ensuring the creation of a collections manager position to oversee the herp collections.
Guyer’s research focused on herpetology, tropical ecology, biogeography, amphibian and reptile life history and conservation. Research out of the Guyer lab was varied, both taxonomically and thematically ranging from salamanders to crocodilians, incorporating ecology, physiology, behavior, and phylogeny. An exemplary advisor and mentor, Guyer would produce 21 Masters and 13 Doctoral graduates during his time at Auburn.
Craig continued Mount’s efforts at describing and conserving Alabama’s amphibian and reptile diversity. He described two species of waterdogs (Necturus) found in the state and endemic to the Southeastern United States. His work has also been critical to the conservation of several of Alabama’s threatened and endangered species, including the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and the Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) a species that has now been reintroduced in the state after being extirpated since the mid 1950’s.
Craig’s three decades of work on Alabama amphibians and reptiles culminated with the publication of an update of Mount’s seminal work The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. It is to the credit to both Dr. Mount and Dr. Guyer and their work since 1974 that the updated edition, which Craig authored with Dr. Mount and Mark Baily, is being published in four volumes. Turtles of Alabama was published in 2015, Lizards and Snakes of Alabama in 2019, Frogs and Toads of Alabama in 2023 with Salamanders of Alabama coming soon.
While much of Guyer’s work focused on Alabama species, Craig never lost his love of the tropics. He continued his work in the neotropics both with anoles and with the herpetofauna of Costa Rica, especially that of La Selva. This work would lead to a series of important papers on the classification of anoles which called for a multi-genus view of the group as well as the publication of “Amphibian and Reptiles of La Selva, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean Slope: A Comprehensive Guide” which he authored with Maureen “Mo” Donelley.
Guyer was also an exemplary educator and mentor. He taught both Vertebrate Biodiversity and Herpetology. Both classes were popular and fondly remembered by students due to Craig’s ability to bring the subject to life, his storytelling, and his care for his students and their learning. Students described Guyer as “possibly the best teacher I’ve ever had, EVER” and “the best professor I’ve had at Auburn University”.
Craig also continued the outreach and public education tradition started by Dr. Mount. The live animal collection remained a fixture of the museum and was utilized in both formal and informal education programs both on and off campus to the delight of participants of all ages.
Craig’s research, teaching and outreach efforts were awarded both locally and nationally. In and mentoring both endeared him to students. In 2013 Craig was named the Marguerite Scharnagel Endowed Professor in the College of Science and Mathematics (COSAM) for his “excellence in teaching, research and outreach in the college”. That same year, he was awarded the Meritorious Teaching Award in Herpetology from the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR), The Herpetologists’ League (HL) and the American Society of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists (ASIH) recognizing superior teaching and mentoring of students in herpetology. Additionally, Craig’s many years of research and efforts in conserving the Gopher Tortoise was recognized by the Gopher Tortoise Counsel who awarded him the Auffenberg and Franz Conservation Award.
It should also be noted that along with being a talented researcher, mentor and educator, Craig was also a master musician. His music nights were famous in the department and a source of bonding for his lab and the entire department. Craig brought his heart of a teacher to those events, allowing musicians of all levels to participate in an inviting environment of community and song.