PD Dr Davit Vasilyan

Research thematics

• Neogene ectothermic vertebrates from the Paratethys area

The main objective of my studies will be amphibian and reptile (mainly) Neogene faunas from Western Eurasia (Paratethys region), with emphasis on the Swiss Molasse Basin record. The new data on freshwater fishes, amphibians and reptiles will be used for reconstruction of the faunal assemblages, palaeobiogeographic analysis of different amphibian and reptile groups with higher regional resolution. Using the method of bioclimatic analysis of the herpetofauna, the palaeoprecitation values for the localities can be estimates, the temporal and spatial trends of the Neogene humidity evolution in Western Eurasia can be reconstructed.

• Cenozoic tailed amphibians

Although the salamanders are common in the Cenozoic of Europe and Asia, they are still poorly studied. This group of amphibians have diverse lifecycles, it is strongly connected to the aquatic environments and shows adaptations to the different ecological niches. The studies of enigmatic groups, e.g. giant salamanders (Cryptobranchidae), batrachosauroids (Batrachosauroidae), asian salamanders (Hynobiidae), which are considered as basal linages within Urodela, are of special importance. Morphologic and phylogenetic studies on these salamander groups (Cryptobranchidae, Hynobiidae, Batrachosauroidae etc.) will uncover new insights on the phylogeny of the modern amphibians (Lissamphibia), biogeographic affinities of North American and Eurasian representatives of these groups, as well as their relationships with the Mesozoic tetrapods.

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