Diego Santana Silva

Diego Santana is a herpetologist whose research focuses on the systematics, evolution, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, with an emphasis on Neotropical biodiversity. His work integrates field surveys, museum collections, phylogenetics, phylogeography, genomics, and ecological data to investigate patterns of diversification and to inform conservation strategies.

He has extensive field experience across South America, where he leads and collaborates on long-term research projects in tropical forests, wetlands, savannas, and fire-affected ecosystems such as the Pantanal. His research explores how historical processes, environmental gradients, and contemporary threats, including climate change, fire, habitat loss shape herpetofauna diversity.

At the Field Museum, Diego curates the amphibians and reptiles’ collection and contributes to conservation initiatives that bridge basic evolutionary research and applied conservation, working closely with international collaborators, local institutions, and communities. He is especially interested in integrative taxonomy and the use of large-scale datasets to identify cryptic diversity and conservation priorities in understudied regions. In addition to his museum role, Diego is strongly committed to mentorship, training, and capacity building, and to fostering collaborative research networks between North and South America. Prior to joining the Field Museum, Diego worked as an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, in Brazil.