Jenna Crowe-Riddell
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
My research focuses on the evolution senses and brains in reptiles. I like to take an integrative approach by using morpological, molecular and behavioural data to understand the evolution of complex sensory traits.
My current projects include an ARC Discovery Project investigating brain evolution in Australian squamates (snakes and lizards). This project aims uses diffusible iodine contrast-enhanced CT scanning to capture changes in brain shape and size during transitions to new ecologies/biomes. This research dovetails with development projects on how incubation temperature is impacting brain development in thermo-sensitive species like bearded dragons.
My current ARC DECRA project investigates the mechanisms underlying sensory adaptations in snakes. This research will harness innovative phenotypic imaging and genomic sequencing, to study the coordinated changes among sensory systems in a range of ecologically diverse snakes. Expected outcomes include a large database of 3D digital anatomical models from Australian and international museum collections, and new knowledge on the genetic processes influencing sensory receptor evolution in vertebrates.
These projects have benefits for conservation by using neural adaptability as a framework for estimating potential extinction risk for vulnerable species.
I am also passionate about conservation in sea snakes, helping to create an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for detecting endangered sea snake species in Western Australian Marine Parks.
- My Research
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My research focuses on the evolution senses and brains in reptiles. I like to take an integrative approach by using morpological, molecular and behavioural data to understand the evolution of complex sensory traits.
My current projects include an ARC Discovery Project investigating brain evolution in Australian squamates (snakes and lizards). This project aims uses diffusible iodine contrast-enhanced CT scanning to capture changes in brain shape and size during transitions to new ecologies/biomes. This research dovetails with development projects on how incubation temperature is impacting brain development in thermo-sensitive species like bearded dragons.
My current ARC DECRA project investigates the mechanisms underlying sensory adaptations in snakes. This research will harness innovative phenotypic imaging and genomic sequencing, to study the coordinated changes among sensory systems in a range of ecologically diverse snakes. Expected outcomes include a large database of 3D digital anatomical models from Australian and international museum collections, and new knowledge on the genetic processes influencing sensory receptor evolution in vertebrates.
These projects have benefits for conservation by using neural adaptability as a framework for estimating potential extinction risk for vulnerable species.
I am also passionate about conservation in sea snakes, helping to create an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for detecting endangered sea snake species in Western Australian Marine Parks.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2024 - ongoing ARC DECRA Fellow University of Adelaide 2021 - 2024 Postdoctoral Researcher La Trobe University 2019 - 2021 Postdoctoral Researcher University of Michigan 2016 - ongoing Adminstrative assistant University of Adelaide 2015 - ongoing PhD University of Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2016 Scholarship Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship - - - -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2015 - 2019 University of Adelaide Australia PhD 2014 - 2014 University of Adelaide Australia Ba of Science (1st Class Honours) 2008 - 2011 Australian National University Australia Ba of Science -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2024 Collin, S. P., Yopak, K. E., Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Camilieri-Asch, V., Kerr, C. C., Robins, H., . . . Chapuis, L. (2024). Bioimaging of sense organs and the central nervous system in extant fishes and reptiles in situ: A review. Anatomical Record.
2024 Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Zdenek, C. N., Sanders, K. L., & Rasmussen, A. R. (2024). Sea snakes. Current biology : CB, 34(17), R806-R807.
2023 Palci, A., Lee, M. S. Y., Crowe-Riddell, J., & Sherratt, E. (2023). Shape and size variation in elapid snake fangs, and the effects of phylogeny and diet. Evolutionary Biology, 50(4), 476-487.
2023 Srodawa, K., Cerda, P. A., Davis Rabosky, A. R., & Crowe-Riddell, J. M. (2023). Evolution of Three-Finger Toxin Genes in Neotropical Colubrine Snakes (Colubridae). Toxins, 15(9), 523.
Scopus12022 Cerda, P. A., Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Gonçalves, D. J. P., Larson, D. A., Duda, T. F., & Davis Rabosky, A. R. (2022). Divergent Specialization of Simple Venom Gene Profiles among Rear-Fanged Snake Genera (Helicops and Leptodeira, Dipsadinae, Colubridae). Toxins, 14(7), 489.
Scopus4 Europe PMC32022 Folwell, M., Sanders, K., & Crowe-Riddell, J. (2022). The Squamate Clitoris: A Review and Directions for Future Research.. Integrative and comparative biology, 62(3), 559-568.
Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC32022 Folwell, M. J., Sanders, K. L., Brennan, P. L. R., & Crowe-Riddell, J. M. (2022). First evidence of hemiclitores in snakes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 289(1989), 7 pages.
Scopus7 Europe PMC32021 Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Jolly, C. J., Goiran, C., & Sanders, K. L. (2021). The sex life aquatic: Sexually dimorphic scale mechanoreceptors and tactile courtship in a sea snake Emydocephalus annulatus (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 134(1), 154-164.
Scopus5 WoS12021 García-Cobos, D., Gómez-Sánchez, D. A., Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Sanders, K. L., & Molina, J. (2021). Ecological and sexual roles of scale mechanoreceptors in two species of Neotropical freshwater snake (Dipsadinae: Helicops). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 134(4), 958-974.
Scopus32021 Callahan, S., Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Nagesan, R. S., Gray, J. A., & Davis Rabosky, A. R. (2021). A guide for optimal iodine staining and high-throughput diceCT scanning in snakes. Ecology and Evolution, 11(17), 11587-11603.
Scopus192021 Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Dix, S., Pieterman, L., Nankivell, J. H., Ford, M., Ludington, A. J., . . . Allen, L. (2021). From matte banded to glossy black: structures underlying colour change in the caudal lures of southern death adders (Acanthophis antarcticus, Reptilia: Elapidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 132(3), 666-675.
Scopus6 WoS32019 Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Simões, B. F., Partridge, J. C., Hunt, D. M., Delean, S., Schwerdt, J. G., . . . Sanders, K. L. (2019). Phototactic tails: evolution and molecular basis of a novel sensory trait in sea snakes. Molecular Ecology, 28(8), 1-16.
Scopus15 WoS12 Europe PMC92019 Lillywhite, H. B., Sheehy, C. M., Sandfoss, M. R., Crowe-Riddell, J., & Grech, A. (2019). Drinking by sea snakes from oceanic freshwater lenses at first rainfall ending seasonal drought. PLoS ONE, 14(2), 11 pages.
Scopus14 Europe PMC32019 Crowe-Riddell, J. M., Williams, R., Chapuis, L., & Sanders, K. L. (2019). Ultrastructural evidence of a mechanosensory function of scale organs (sensilla) in sea snakes (Hydrophiinae). Royal Society Open Science, 6(4), 16 pages.
Scopus17 WoS12 Europe PMC22019 Crowe-Riddell, J. M., D'Anastasi, B. R., Nankivell, J. H., Rasmussen, A. R., & Sanders, K. L. (2019). First records of sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) diving to the mesopelagic zone (>200 m). Austral Ecology, 44(4), 752-754.
Scopus14 WoS102018 Udyawer, V., Barnes, P., Bonnet, X., Brischoux, F., Crowe-Riddell, J. M., D'Anastasi, B., . . . Voris, H. K. (2018). Future directions in the research and management of marine snakes. Frontiers in Marine Science, Nov 2018(5), 1-16.
Scopus26 WoS202016 Crowe-Riddell, J., Snelling, E., Watson, A., Suh, A., Partridge, J., & Sanders, K. (2016). The evolution of scale sensilla in the transition from land to sea in elapid snakes. Open Biology, 6(6), 160054-1-160054-12.
Scopus31 WoS21 Europe PMC72012 Langmore, N., Feeney, W., Crowe-Riddell, J., Luan, H., Louwrens, K., & Cockburn, A. (2012). Learned recognition of brood parasitic cuckoos in the superb fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus. Behavioral Ecology, 23(4), 798-805.
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2023 Crowe-Riddell, J. M., & Lillywhite, H. B. (2023). Sensory systems. In C. Warwick, & P. C. Arena (Eds.), Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles (pp. 45-91). Springer Link.
DOI Scopus8 -
Datasets
Year Citation - Crowe-Riddell, J. (n.d.). From matte banded to glossy black: Structures underlying colour change in the caudal lures of southern death adders (Acanthophis antarcticus, Reptilia: Elapidae).
DOI- Crowe-Riddell, J., & Sanders, K. (n.d.). Images of Emydocephalus annulatus scale protuberances.
DOI- Crowe-Riddell, J., & Sanders, K. (n.d.). Histology of Emydocephalus annulatus skin.
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Filesets
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Media
Year Citation - Crowe-Riddell, J., & Sanders, K. (n.d.). Video of courtship behaviour in turtle headed sea snakes.
DOI- Crowe-Riddell, J., & Sanders, K. (n.d.). From matte banded to glossy black: Structures underlying colour change in the caudal lures of southern death adders (Acanthophis antarcticus, Reptilia: Elapidae).
DOI
2024–2027: Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) 2024, Australian Research Council, “Serpent sensory innovation in the evolutionary transition from land to sea” ($423,232; DE240100501)
2023–2026: Discovery Project, Australian Research Council, “Plastic brains: Neural adaptations to changing environments in reptiles” ($430,000; DP230101438) Lead CI
2023: Imaging and Medical Beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), “Nervous and sensory systems of Australian reptiles and fishes: a neuroecological study”, (in kind grant value $65,568) Co-CI
2022–2023: Our Marine Grants – Round 3, Parks Australia, “Role of Australian Marine Parks in connecting and conserving sea snake populations across northern Australia” ($400,000) Co-CI
202 –2022: ECRs and MCRs Awards, La Trobe University, “Plastic brains: Neural adaptations to changing environments in reptiles” ($45,255) Sole CI
2021–2022: Minderoo Foundation Exmouth Research Laboratory, Minderoo Foundation, “Can eDNA be used to find cryptic populations of critically-endangered sea snakes?” (in kind grant value $20,000) Lead CI
2020–2022: Margaret Middleton Fund for Endangered Vertebrates, Australia Academy of Sciences, “Can eDNA be used to find cryptic populations of critically-endangered sea snakes?” ($18,900) Lead CI
2016: Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship, Australian American Fulbright Commission Sole CI
2024: Zoology II Lecturer for Vertebrate Evolution and Diversity module
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2022 Co-Supervisor Evolution and conservation genetics of sea snakes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Amelia Rose Pointon 2021 Co-Supervisor Reproduction and genital morphology of snakes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Megan Folwell
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2015 - ongoing - Sea snake specialist group -
Connect With Me
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