The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change

is a research museum of the Leibniz Association

Morris Flecks

Technical Assistant

Herpetology

Tel: +49 228 9122-254

Fax: +49 228 9122-212

Mail: m.flecks [at] leibniz-zfmk.de

Tabs

Profile

Research interests

My scientific interests are taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, and conservation of western Palaearctic and Afrotropical amphibians and reptiles, especially geckos and lizards. I’m focused on integrative approaches to species delimitation, phylogeography, and niche evolution.

Memberships

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde, Societas Europaea Herpetologica, Alexander Koenig Gesellschaft

External websites and profiles

http://www.mflecks.de

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Morris_Flecks

Projects

2022

ColLomic

High-quality genomes are an important basis for biological and evolutionary research. However, generating assemblies of high completeness and contiguity requires ideally fresh, flash-frozen samples. The availability of such samples has become a major limitation for biodiversity genomics, in particular for rare or endangered species, or species inhabiting remote regions. On the other hand, museum collections house millions of samples in Germany and worldwide.

Unit:

Comparative Vertebrate Genomics, Herpetology, Scientific Animal Keeping Facility, Biobank, Mammalogy

Project lead:

Astrid Böhne

Funding:

Leibniz Association

2014

Lizard radiation in Iran

Within this project the lizard fauna of Iran is investigated in terms of Systematics and Evolutionary Biology.

Unit:

Herpetology

Project lead:

PD Dr. Dennis Rödder

Funding:

German Academic Exchange Service, Alexander Koenig Stiftung, Alexander-Koenig-Society e.V.

2012

Assessing the Natterjack Toad in Cologne

Assessing the Natterjack Toad in Cologne according to FFH standards

Unit:

Herpetology

Project lead:

PD Dr. Dennis Rödder

Funding:

Umwelt- und Verbraucherschutzamt - Stadt Köln

Assessing the Green Toad in Cologne

Assessing the Green Toad in Cologne according to FFH standards

Unit:

Herpetology

Project lead:

PD Dr. Dennis Rödder

Funding:

Umwelt- und Verbraucherschutzamt - Stadt Köln

2009

Population assessment of the Turquoise Dwarf Gecko

The turquoise dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi) is endemic to two small forests in eastern Tanzania, where it exclusively dwells on screwpines (Pandanus rabaiensis). To assess its population status, we surveyed its habitats at the Kimboza Forest Reserve and estimated the population size of the territorial gecko based on habitat availability, using Pandanus abundance as a proxy. Furthermore, threats to the species, especially the impact of the international pet trade on the population, were studied. Our results suggest a severe population decline.

Unit:

Herpetology

Project lead:

Morris Flecks

Funding:

Alexander-Koenig-Society e.V., Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V., The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz e.V.

Publications

Published in

2024

Hofmann, S., Rödder, D., Andermann, M., Matschiner, M., Riedel, J., Baniya, C. B. , Flecks, M., Martin, S., ... , Podsiadlowski, L. (2024): Exploring paleogene Tibet’s warm temperate environments through target enrichment and phylogenetic niche modeling of Himalayan Spiny Frogs (Paini, Dicroglossidae). - Molecular Ecology; DOI: 10.1111/mec.17446

[more]

2022

Ribeiro-Júnior, M. A., Koch, C., Flecks, M., Calvo, M., Meiri, S. (2022): Dwarves in a Big World: Two New Species of Tropiocolotes (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Sahara Desert, with the First Detailed Skull Description of the Genus. - Journal of Herpetology 56 (4): 396–421.

[more]

Ribeiro-Júnior, M. A., Tamar, K., Maza, E., Flecks, M., Wagner, P., Shacham, B., Calvo, M., ... , Koch, C., et al. (2022): Taxonomic revision of the Tropiocolotes nattereri (Squamata, Gekkonidae) species complex, with the description of a new species from Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. - Zoologica Scripta 51: 288–309; DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12532

[more]

Documents:

2022_ribeiro-junior_etal_tropiocolotes_nattereri_zoologicascripta.pdf

2021

Joel, A.-C., Linde, J. R. N., Comanns, P., Emonts, C., Weissbach, M., Flecks, M., Rödder, D. (2021): Phylogenetic and morphological influence on habitat choice in moisture-harvesting horned lizards (Phrynosoma spp.). - Ecology and Evolution 2021; 00:1–16; DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8132

[more]

Documents:

joel_et_al._2021.pdf

Wagner, P., Ihlow, F., Hartmann, T., Flecks, M., Schmitz, A., Böhme, W. (2021): Integrative approach to resolve the Calotes mystaceus Duméril & Bibron, 1837 species complex (Squamata: Agamidae). - Bonn zoological Bulletin 70 (1): 141–171; https://doi.org/10.20363/BZB-2021.70.1.141

[more]

Documents:

141_wagner_et_al_20210507.pdf

2020

Nania, D., Flecks, M., Rödder, D. (2020): Continuous expansion of the geographic range linked to realized niche expansion in the invasive Mourning gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris (Duméril & Bibron, 1836). - PLoS ONE 15(7): e0235060; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235060

[more]

Documents:

nania_et_al._2020_expansion_lepidodactylus_lugubris.pdf

2017

Praschag, P., Ihlow, F., Flecks, M., Vamberger, M., Fritz, U. (2017): A genetic assessment of the diversity of North American map and sawback turtles (Testudines: Emydidae: Graptemys). - Zoologica Scripta 46: 675 - 682; https://doi.org./10.1111/ZSC.12249

[more]

2016

Ahmadzadeh, F., Flecks, M., Carretero, M. A., Böhme, W., Ihlow, F., Kapli, P., Miraldo, A., Rödder, D. (2016): Separate histories in both sides of the Mediterranean: phylogeny and niche evolution of ocellated lizards. – Journal of Biogeography 43(6): 1242–1253; doi: 10.1111/jbi.12703

[more]

Ihlow, F., Vamberger, M., Flecks, M., Hartmann, T., Cota, M., Makchai, S., Meewattana, P., et al. (2016): Integrative Taxonomy of Southeast Asian Snail-Eating Turtles (Geoemydidae: Malayemys) Reveals a New Species and Mitochondrial Introgression. PLoS ONE 11(4): e0153108; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153108

[more]

Documents:

Ihlow et al. 2016 Malayemys

Koch, C., Flecks, M., Venegas, P.J., Bialke, P., Valverde, S., Rödder, D. (2016): Applying n-dimensional hypervolumes for species delimitation: unexpected molecular, morphological, and ecological diversity in the Leaf-Toed Gecko Phyllodactylus reissii Peters, 1862 (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) from northern Peru. - Zootaxa 4161(1): 41-80; http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4161.1.2

[more]

2013

Ahmadzadeh, F., Flecks, M., Carretero, M. A., Böhme, W., Ilgaz, C., Engler, J. O., Harris, D. J., Üzüm, N., Rödder, D. (2013) Rapid lizard radiation lacking niche conservatism: ecological diversification within a complex landscape. Journal of Biogeography 40: 1475-1489.

[more]

AHMADZADEH, F., FLECKS, M., CARRETERO, M.A., MOZAFFARI, O., BÖHME, W., HARRIS, D.J., FREITAS, S., RÖDDER, D. (2013) Cryptic speciation patterns in Iranian rock lizards uncovered by integrative taxonomy. PLoS ONE 8 (12): e80563

[more]

Documents:

626_ahmadzadeh_et_al._2013_plos_one.pdf

Ahmadzadeh, F., Flecks, M., Rödder, D., Böhme, W., Ilgaz, C., Harris, D.J., Engler, J.O., Üzüm, N., Carretero, M. (2013) Multiple dispersal out of Anatolia: biogeography and evolution of oriental green lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 110: 398-408.

[more]

Documents:

619_ahmadzadeh_et_al._2013_oriental_green_lizards_-_biol.j.linn_.soc_.pdf

KOCH, C., VENEGAS, P.J., RÖDDER, D., FLECKS, M., BÖHME, W. (2013) Two new endemic species of Ameiva (Squamata: Teiidae) from the dry forest of northwestern Peru and additional information on Ameiva concolor Ruthven, 1924. Zootaxa 3745: 263-295.

[more]

Rödder, D., Flecks, M., Koch, A. (2013): Amphibien und Reptilien: Wo stehen die Kriechtiere in der globalen Biodiversitätskrise? Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum A. Koenig, Jahresbericht 2012: 15-16.

[more]

Rödder, D., Lawing, A.M., Flecks, M., Ahmadzadeh, F., Dambach, J., Engler, J.O., Habel, J.C., Hartmann, T., Hörnes, D., Ihlow, F., Schidelko, K., Stiels, D., Polly, D. (2013): Evaluating the Significance of Paleophylogeographic Species Distribution Models in Reconstructing Quaternary Range-Shifts of Nearctic Chelonians. - PLoS ONE 8(10): 1-19; e72855.

[more]

Links:

Access to the paper

2012

FLECKS, M., SCHMITZ, A., BÖHME, W., HENKEL, F.W., INEICH, I. (2012) A new species of Gehyra Gray, 1834 (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the Loyalty Islands and Vanuatu, and phylogenetic relationships in the genus Gehyra in Melanesia. Zoosystema 34(2): 203-221.

[more]

FLECKS, M., WEINSHEIMER, F., BÖHME, W., CHENGA, J., LÖTTERS, S., RÖDDER, D. (2012) Watching extinction happen: the dramatic population status of the critically endangered Tanzanian Turquoise Dwarf Gecko, Lygodactylus williamsi. Salamandra 48: 12-20.

[more]

Ihlow, F., Dambach, J., Engler, J. O., Flecks, M., Hartmann, T., Nekum, S., Rajaei, H., Rödder, D. (2012): On the brink of extinction? How climate change may affect global Chelonian species richness. - Global Change Biology 18: 1520-1530.

[more]

2011

AHMADZADEH, F., FLECKS, M., TORKI, F., BÖHME, W. (2011) A new species of angular-toed gecko, genus Cyrtopodion (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern Iran. Zootaxa 2924: 22-32.

[more]

Pages

Teaching

MSc OEP-Biology

Since 2013 Assisting the OEP-Biology module „Ecology and zoogeography of the Pannonian area, with a field trip to the Neusiedler Lake”

2013 - 2015 Assisting the OEP-Biology module „Evolution and biodiversity of lower vertebrates”

Others

2007 - 2013 Tutoring basic courses in biology for medical sciences students at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

Activities

Since 11/2016 Technical assistant in the herpetology section

02/2014 - 11/2016 Graduate assistant at the herpetological section of the ZFMK

04/2009 - 12/2010 Compiling a digital database of the herpetological collection of the ZFMK (WGL-AQUANET)

Educational career

05/2013 Diplom in biology (thesis: “A systematic revision of the African members of the genus Lygodactylus Gray, 1864” supervised by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Böhme)

10/2004 - 05/2013 Studies in biology at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

03/2003 Abitur at Integrierte Gesamtschule Kastellaun

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Morris Flecks

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Research interests

Memberships

External websites and profiles

2022

ColLomic

2014

Lizard radiation in Iran

2012

Assessing the Natterjack Toad in Cologne

Assessing the Green Toad in Cologne

2009

Population assessment of the Turquoise Dwarf Gecko

2024

2022

2021

2020

2017

2016

2013

2012

2011

Pages

MSc OEP-Biology

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Educational career

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Morris Flecks

Tabs

Research interests

Memberships

External websites and profiles

2022

2014

2012

2009

Pages

2024

2022

2021

2020

2017

2016

2013

2012

2011

Pages

MSc OEP-Biology

Others

Activities

Educational career

Staff search