Personal profile
Contact Info
3rd floor, Environment Centre Wales, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0)1248 382301
Web: ResearchGate; GoogleScholar
Teaching and Supervision
Programme Organiser:
- BSc and MZool in Zoology with Herpetology
Module Organiser:
- ENS-2414 - Arizona field course
- BSX-3158 - Advances in Herpetology
Module Contributor
- ENS-1000 - Year 1 Tutorials
- ENS-1402 - Organismal Diversity 2
- ENS-2000 - Becoming a Researcher
- ENS-2401 - Introduction to Herpetology
- ENS-2414 - Arizona field course
- BSX-3070 - Dissertation in Biological Sciences
- BSX-3158 - Advances in Herpetology
- BSM-4000 - Masters Research Project
Research
My research interests span a wide range of topics in evolution, systematics and ecology, using primarily snakes as a model system. Current and recent topics have included the evolution of venom composition and its selective drivers, the origin of snake venom systems, species delimitation in snake species complexes, the evolution of warning signals and mimicry systems, biogeography, phylogeography and ecology.
Postgraduate Project Opportunities
I am interested in supervising postgraduate students in a range of topics in herpetology and toxinology. Much of my current work is based on the use of genomic approaches to answer questions relating to topics such as:
- Conservation genomics of European vipers
- Evolution and ecology of venoms
- Snake systematics, taxonomy and phylogeny
- Analysis of hybrid zones
- Snake ecology
Please drop me a line if you are interested and want to explore possibilities.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Systematics of Asian cobras, University of Aberdeen
Award Date: 16 Feb 1990
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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On the importance of correct snake identification. Comment on Chippaux et al. Snakebites in Cameroon by Species Whose Effects Are Poorly Described
Wüster, W., Warrell, D. A. & Williams, D. J., 22 Jan 2026, In: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 11, 1, 5 p., 31.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
A reliance on human habitats is key to the success of an introduced predatory reptile
Major, T., Jeffrey, L., Limia Russel, G., Bracegirdle, R., Gandini, A., Morgan, R., Marshall, B., Mulley, J. & Wüster, W., 5 Feb 2025, In: PLoS ONE. 20, 2, p. e0310352 22 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A review of geographic variation in the monocled cobra, Naja kaouthia Lesson, 1831 (Serpentes: Elapidae) with the designation of a neotype
Balchan, N. R., Esquerré, D., Wogan, G. O. U. & Wüster, W., 7 Nov 2025, In: Zootaxa. 5717, 4, p. 488-516 29 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Britain has a new snake species – should climate change mean it is allowed to stay?
Major, T. & Wüster, W., 7 Feb 2025, The Conversation.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
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Experimental winter warming increases activity with signs of potential DNA damage in common wall lizards
Raselimanana, M., Wüster, W., Blount, J. D., Mitchell, C. A., Morgan, R., Wilkinson, J. W. & MacLeod, K. J., 21 Nov 2025, In: Journal of Experimental Biology. 228, 22Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
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MScRes project on adder population genomics: Natur am Byth (NaB) scheme via ARC Trust.
Wüster, W. (PI)
1/10/24 → 15/11/26
Project: Research
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Understanding snake venom variation: integrating the role of diet and defence
Wüster, W. (PI)
1/03/21 → 7/08/25
Project: Research
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Going with the flow? The genetic and genomic basis for snake venom evolution.
Wüster, W. (PI)
29/04/14 → 10/10/17
Project: Research
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Has defence dictated the evolution of venom composition in spitting cobras?
Wüster, W. (PI)
1/10/12 → 31/12/15
Project: Research
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Why is snake venom composition so variable?
Wüster, W. (Speaker)
15 Sept 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Why is snake venom composition so variable
Wuster, W. (Speaker)
7 Dec 2017Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Drivers and mechanisms of variation in snake venom composition
Wuster, W. (Speaker)
30 Nov 2017 → 3 Dec 2017Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Keynote Presentation: Natural History and Genetic Basis of Venom Evolution
Wuster, W. (Contributor)
26 Jul 2017Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Invited talk
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Keynote address: Patterns, drivers and genetics of venom variation in snakes
Wuster, W. (Member)
12 May 2017Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Invited talk
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Press/Media
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Ancient Egypt had far more venomous snakes than the country today, according to our new study of a scroll
Wüster, W., Winder, I. & McBride, E.
16/10/23 → 20/02/24
4 Media contributions
Press/Media: Research