Responsibilities
David Prötzel joined BIOTOPIA in 2021 as a Scientific Associate for Education.
David Prötzel is a teacher for biology and chemistry at a secondary school (Gymnasium) as well as a scientist specialized in amphibians and reptiles. Parallel to working at the Gymnasium Bad Aibling he achieved his PhD’s degree at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (ZSM) on the taxonomy and biology of Madagascan chameleons. In close collaboration with other taxonomists from the ZSM he conducted field work in Madagascar and described several new chameleon species. Furthermore, he discovered fluorescence in chameleons and a new fluorescence mechanism in a gecko species. These phenomena met broad public interest, which was reflected in worldwide media coverage. Since 2020 he is a member of the IUCN/SSC Chameleon Specialist Group to support their conservation.
Contact
Projektbüro im Botanischen Institut
Menzinger Str. 67
80638 München, Germany
Room:
R12
Phone:
089 / 178 61-413
Email:
proetzel@biotopia.net
Website:
Naturkundemuseum Bayern - BIOTOPIA Lab
Work group
Life Sciences in Society
Publications
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Prötzel, D., Randriamanana, L. O., & Glaw, F. (2023). Invasive centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes) preying on a house gecko (Hemidactylus mercatorius) in eastern Madagascar. – Spixiana (45), 276.
Glaw, F., Prötzel, D., & Randriamanana, L. O. (2022). Praying mantis (Tarachomantis confusa) preying on a Bright-Eyed Frog (Boophis luteus) in eastern Madagascar. – Spixiana (45), 20.
Scherz, M.D., Prötzel, D., Randrianantoandro, C., Rakotomalala, D., Karsten, K.B. & Raxworthy, C.J. (2022) Chamaeleonidae, Chameleons. In: Goodman, S.M. (Ed.) The New Natural History of Madagascar. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ USA, 1506¬–1531.
Raselimanana, A.P., Scherz, M.D., Prötzel, D. & Glaw, F. (2022) Gerrhosauridae, Plated lizards. In: Goodman, S.M. (Ed.) The New Natural History of Madagascar. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ USA, 1490–1494.
Glaw, F., Köhler, J., Crottini, A., Gehring, P.S., Prötzel, D., Randriamanana, L., Andreone, F. & Vences, M. (2021). An additional level of cryptic diversity: a new green-coloured Malagasy treefrog of the Boophis luteus species group. – Salamandra (57), 295–308.
Prötzel, D., Heß, M., Schwager, M., Glaw, F. & Scherz, M.D. (2021). Neon-green fluorescence in the desert gecko Pachydactylus rangei caused by iridophores. – Scientific Reports (11), 1–10. Altmetric Score Online Attention: 2720; Editor's choice: adaptation
Glaw, F., Prötzel, D., Eckhardt, F., Raharinoro, N.A., Ravelojaona, R.N., Glaw, T., Glaw, K., Forster, J. & Vences, M. (2020).
Rediscovery, conservation status and genetic relationships of the Malagasy chameleon Furcifer voeltzkowi. – Salamandra (56), 342–354.
Prötzel, D., Scherz, M.D., Ratsoavina, F., Vences, M. & Glaw, F. (2020). Untangling the trees: Revision of the Calumma nasutum complex. – Vertebrate Zoology (70), 23–59.
Prötzel, D., Lambert, S.M., Andrianasolo, G.T., Hutter, C.R., Cobb, K.A., Scherz, M.D., Glaw, F. (2018). The smallest ‘true chameleon’ from Madagascar: a new, distinctly colored species of the Calumma boettgeri complex (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae). – Zoosystematics and Evolution (94), 409–423.
Prötzel, D., Forster, J., Krautz, T. & Glaw, F. (2018). Predator versus predator: Four-lined Snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) feeding on a Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) in Istria, Croatia. – Spixiana (41), 157–159.
Sentis, M., Chang, Y., Scherz, M.D., Prötzel, D., Glaw, F. (2018). Rising from the ashes: resurrection of the Malagasy chameleons Furcifer monoceras and F. voeltzkowi (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae), based on micro-CT scans and external morphology. – Zootaxa (3), 549–566.
Glaw, F., Scherz, M.D., Prötzel, D., Vences, M. (2018). Eye and webbing colouration as predictors of specific distinctness: a genetically-isolated new treefrog species of the Boophis albilabris group from the Masoala peninsula, northeastern Madagascar. – Salamandra (54), 163–177.
Prötzel, D., Vences, M., Scherz, M.D., Hawlitschek, O., Ratsoavina, F. & Glaw, F. (2018). Endangered beauties: Micro-CT osteology, molecular genetics and external morphology reveal three new species of chameleons in the Calumma boettgeri complex (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae). – Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (184), 471–498. Altmetric Score Online Attention: 120.
Prötzel, D., Heß, M., Scherz, M.D., Schwager, M., van’t Padje, A. & Glaw, F. (2018). Widespread bone-based fluorescence in chameleons. – Scientific Reports (8), 698. Altmetric Score Online Attention: 649; Journal Top 25
Prötzel, D., Vences, M., Scherz, M.D., Vieites, D.R. & Glaw, F. (2017). Splitting and lumping: An integrative taxonomic assessment of Malagasy chameleons in the Calumma guibei complex results in the new species C. gehringi sp. nov. –Vertebrate Zoology (67), 231–249.
Prötzel, D., Glaw K., Forster, J. & Glaw, F. (2016). Hibernation in tropical Madagascar? Unusual roosting sites of chameleons of the genus Calumma. – Spixiana (39), 272.
Prötzel, D., Ruthensteiner, B. & Glaw, F. (2016). No longer single! Description of female Calumma vatosoa (Squamata, Chamaeleonidae) including a review of the species and its systematic position. – Zoosystematics and Evolution (92), 13–21.
Prötzel, D., Ruthensteiner, B., Scherz, M.D., Glaw, F. (2015). Systematic revision of the Malagasy chameleons Calumma boettgeri and Calumma linotum (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae). Zootaxa (4048), 211–231.
TALKS and POSTERS
Prötzel, D. (2021). Fluoreszenz bei Geckos. DGHT-Tagung, Bad Wildungen.
Prötzel, D. (2019). Fluoreszenz bei Chamäleons. ÖGH-conference, Vienna.
Prötzel, D. (2018). Entdeckung der Fluoreszenz bei Chamäleons und Kurzvorstellung neuer Chamäleonarten von Madagaskar. Talk at meeting of AG-Chamäleons, Boppard.
Sentis, M., Chang, Y., Scherz, M.D., Prötzel, D., Glaw, F. (2017). Rising from the ashes: resurrection of the Malagasy chameleons Furcifer monoceras and F. voeltzkowi (Squamata: Chamaeleonidae), based on micro-CT scans and external morphology. Poster at SEH-meeting, Salzburg, Austria.
Prötzel, D., Heß, M., Scherz, M.D., Schwager, M., van't Padje, A. & Glaw, F. (2017). Fluoreszenz bei Chamäleons. Talk at DGHT-meeting, Ulm.
Prötzel, D. (2017). Ungeahnte Vielfalt in der Calumma nasutum-Gruppe. ÖGH-conference, Vienna.
Prötzel, D. (2017). Kommunikation bei Chamäleons – sie lassen Farbe sprechen. Talk at Freunde der ZSM, Munich.
Schmidl, J., Prötzel, D., Pfeifer, T. (2012). Monitoring tree-bark arthropod diverstity along altitudinal and structural gradients in tropical forests. Talk and Poster on GFOe-Conference, Lüneburg.
REVIEW: Current Zoology, Herpetological Notes, Herpetological Review
IUCN ASSESSMENTS
Member of the IUCN/SSC Chameleon Specialist Group
Glaw, F., Prötzel, D. & Jenkins, R.K.B. 2015. Calumma linotum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015, e.T75976541A75976544.
Glaw, F., Jenkins, R.K.B., Prötzel, D. & Tolley, K. 2015. Calumma boettgeri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015, e.T176301A82125738.
POPULAR SCIENCE ARTICLES
Prötzel, D. & Forster, J. (2022): Rezension zu Kinofilm „Willi und die Wunderkröte“. ¬– Elaphe (3/2022), 6¬–9.
Prötzel, D. (2022). Fluoreszenz bei Amphibien und Reptilien. ¬– Reptilia (154), 14–23.
Prötzel, D. (2022). Weitverbreitete Fluoreszenz bei Chamäleons. ¬– Reptilia. (154), 24–28.
Prötzel, D. (2022). Neon-grüne Fluoreszenz beim Palmatogecko. ¬– Reptilia. (154), 30–34.
Prötzel, D. (2019). Digitale Frösche im Schulunterricht. – Elaphe (3/2019), 8¬–9.
Prötzel, D. (2018). Unter Forschern – auf der Suche nach neuen Chamäleonarten in Ost-Madagaskar. – Elaphe/Terraria (72),66–69.
Prötzel, D. & Forster, J. 2017. Masoala – ein herpetologischer Reisebericht von den letzten Tieflandregenwäldern Madagaskars. ¬– Reptilia (127), 72–79.
Prötzel, D. (2014). Der Palmatogecko – ein sozialer Gecko? – Reptilia (107), 4–5.
Prötzel, D. & Forster J. 2014: Eine herpetologische Reise nach Sumatra. – Reptilia (109), 80–85.
Prötzel, D. (2011). USA – Auf Reptiliensuche in den Nationalparks des Westens. – Terraria (32), 71–76.
Prötzel, D. (2009). Backpacking in down under – der Reptilien wegen. – Terraria (16), 73–84.
Prötzel, D. (2007). Haltung von Echsen im Gewächshaus. – Reptilia (63), 64–70.
PARTICIPATION in DOCUMENTARY FILMS/TELEVISION/RADIO
Anna und die Haustiere – Gecko, ARD/ BR, 20th May 2023.
Neon-grün leuchtende Wüstengeckos aus Namibia, München.TV, 18th January 2021.
Leuchtende Geckos, Die Profis, Radioeins (RBB), 16th January 2021.
Der Farbwechsel bei Chamäleons, PM Wissen, ServusTV, 16th December 2020.
Die Kommunikation der Tiere (3/3): Geheimnisvolle Signale, 3sat, 4th November 2019; produced as: Animals Decoded, episode 3: Invisible Signals. Documentary, Smithsonian Channel USA, 2018.
radio interview during ÖGH-conference, Ö1, 19th January 2019.
Leuchtende Chamäleons, nano, 3sat, 6th September 2018; also shown in: Farben - Warum wir die Welt bunt sehen, Planet Wissen, BR, 20th May 2019; Die Welt ist bunt - aber ist mein Blau auch dein Blau?, W Wie Wissen, ARD, 18th August 2018.
Glowing Chameleons, Daily Planet, Discovery Channel Canada, 21st February 2018.
LMU snippets, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 24th January 2018.
PRESS COVERAGE
Printed issues:
Bild der Wissenschaft, Nature, Spektrum, P.M. Magazin, Geolino, VBIO – Biologie in unserer Zeit, Scholastic – Science World (USA), How it works (USA), Science & Vie (France), Reptilia, Chamaeleo, GfBS newsletter (Cover), several newspapers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (via dpa)
Online
Fluorescent gecko (2021, via dpa):
2021-01-12: GEO: FÜR NÄCHTLICHE WANDERUNGEN: Fluoreszierende Geckos: Forscher entdecken neuen Mechanismus
2021-01-12: Spektrum.de: Ein Gecko mit Neon-Optik (also under ‘Bilder der Woche’)
2021-01-15: Scinexx: Ein leuchtender Gecko: Der Namibgecko verblüfft durch eine neue Art der Biofluoreszenz
2021-01-13: BR Wissen: Wenn Geckos in UV-Licht leuchten
2021-01-12: Süddeutsche Zeitung: Glosse: Grünes Glimmen in der Wüste
2021-01-11: Zeit Online: Fluoreszierende Geckos: Forscher entdecken neuen Mechanismus
Calumma nasutum revision (2020, via dpa):
2020-03-20: Mongabay.com: Three new species of chameleons emerge from centuries-old entanglement
2020-02-05: Der Standard: “Das” Chamäleon Calumma nasutum entpuppt sich als mehrerer Arten
2020-02-05: Süddeutsche Zeitung: Neue Nasen-Chamäleonarten identifiziert
2020-02-05: ORF.at: Neue Nasenchamäleons entdeckt
2020-04-12: Spektrum: Madagaskar: Neue, bunte und bizarre Chamäleonspezies
Chameleon fluorescence (2018, via dpa):
Spiegel Online: Disco-Effekt: UV-Licht lässt Chamäleons blau strahlen,
National Geographic: Chameleon Bones Glow in the Dark, Even Through Skin
Spektrum: EVOLUTION: Wenn das Chamäleon blau leuchtet
Süddeutsche Zeitung: UV-Licht lässt Chamäleons in blauen Mustern strahlen
Handelsblatt: Chamäleons im Disco-Look
BR: Chamäleons – Leuchten und faszinieren
Neue Züricher Zeitung: Chamäleons leuchten unter UV-Licht um die Wette
ORF: Chamäleon: Disco-Effekt entdeckt
Fox News: Chameleons' secret glow comes from their bones