Jenna Crowe-Riddell

Jenna Crowe-Riddell

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - 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.

I am an ARC DECRA fellow at the University of Adelaide in the School of Biological Sciences. My research focuses on the evolution senses and brains in reptiles. I like to take an integrative approach by using morphological, molecular and behavioural data to understand the evolution of complex sensory traits.

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. Check out some of these interactive models here. 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.

Advanced bioimaging to reveal neuroanatomy of herpetology collections.

 

Understanding sensory morphology can tell us about how animals are interacting with their environments, but a key missing part is behaviour. I am currently looking for students interested in conducting behavioural experiments on sea snakes to better understand their sensory abilities, and link this with gene expression and neuroanatomical approaches to build a complete picture of a sea snake's sensory world. I am currently collaborating with the Minderoo Foundation Exmouth Research Laboratory where we have the opportunity to collect and test wild snakes in captivity.

These projects have benefits for conservation by using neural adaptability as a framework for estimating potential extinction risk for vulnerable species. I also co-supervise projects conservation in sea snakes, where we are currently creating an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for detecting endangered sea snake species in Western Australian as part of ongoing projects with Australian Marine Parks.

If you'd like to find out more about the lab - please reach out jenna.crowe-riddell@adelaide.edu.au 

 

 

Select publications:

  • Wagner, A, Johnson, C, Ha, MH, Sanders, KL, Collin, SP, Crowe-Riddell, JM (in review) Morphology and distribution of a new scale mechanoreceptor type in olive-headed sea snakes (Hydrophis major). In review at the Journal of Morphology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.28.635253
  • Folwell, M, Sanders, KL, Brennan, PLR, Crowe-Riddell, JM (2022) First evidence of hemiclitores in snakes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 289: 20221702. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.1702
  • Crowe-Riddell, JM, Callahan, S, Nagesan, RS, Gray, JA, Davis Rabosky, AR (2021) A guide for optimal iodine staining and high-throughput diceCT scanning in snakes. Ecology and Evolution 11: 11587–11603.3 DOI: https://doi/org/10.1002/ece3.7467
  • Crowe-Riddell, JM, Simões, BR, Partridge, JC, Schwerdt, JG, Breen, J, Ludington, A, Gower, DG, Sanders, KL (2019) Phototactic tails: Evolution and molecular basis of a novel sensory trait in sea snakes. Molecular Ecology 28, 2013–2028. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15022
  • Crowe-Riddell, JM, Snelling, EP, Watson, A, Kyuseop Suh, A, Partridg­­e, JC, Sanders, KL (2016) The evolution of scale sensilla in the transition from land to sea in elapid snakes. Royal Society Open Biology 2016, 160054. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.160054 

Select media:

Minderoo Exmouth Research Laboratory open day. Charismatic marine animals like sea snakes are fantastic for capturing people's innate curiosity of the natural world.  Photo by Carly Keech

 

  • 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
    Animal Cell and Molecular Biology Animal Neurobiology Evolutionary Biology Vertebrate Biology

2025: Minderoo Foundation Exmouth Research Laboratory, Minderoo Foundation, “Assessing chemosensory behaviour and swimming performance to understand bycatch risk in sea snakes” (in kind $108,200) Lead CI

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) 

2024-2027: Hermon Slade Grant, Hermon Slade Foundation, “How do thermosensitive species respond to temperature stress in a warming world? ($87,115) Co-CI

2023–2026: Discovery Project, Australian Research Council, “Plastic brains: Neural adaptations to changing environments in reptiles” ($430,000; DP230101438) Lead CI

2024-2026: Our Marine Grants – Round 4, Parks Australia, “Protecting the biological and cultural values of sea snakes under climate change in Dampier Marine Park” ($331,926) Co-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

2021–2022: Minderoo Foundation Exmouth Research Laboratory, Minderoo Foundation, “Can eDNA be used to find cryptic populations of critically-endangered sea snakes?” (in kind) 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

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Co-Supervisor Anatomical comparison of features used for chemical communication in terrestrial and marine Sauropsida Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Lisa-Marie Kiessling
    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

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2015 - ongoing - Sea snake specialist group -
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