Research
The science behind the field.
More than twenty years of published, peer-reviewed taxonomy. The credibility does not come from social numbers: it comes from here.
≈35
species described or co-described
+2
new genera for science
20+
years of field work
SNI II
National Researcher, SENACYT
Publications
Citable work.
A new species of Andinobates (Amphibia: Anura: Dendrobatidae) from west central Panama
Phylogenetic systematics of dart-poison frogs and their relatives revisited (Anura: Dendrobatoidea)
Ongoing harlequin toad declines suggest the amphibian extinction crisis is still an emergency
A new species of Atelopus (Amphibia: Bufonidae) from eastern Panama
A consolidated phylogeny of snail-eating snakes (Serpentes, Dipsadini), with five new species
Revision of the genus Lepidoblepharis in Central America, with three new species
Two new fringe-limbed frogs of the genus Ecnomiohyla (Anura: Hylidae) from Panama
In the media
His work, in the press.
La Estrella de Panamá Abel Batista: Panamanian scientist with more than 35 species discovered 2026 TVN-2 Panamanian scientist and the discovery of amphibian species 2022 SENACYT · Revista Imagina Amphibians and reptiles for community knowledge 2023 Panamá América The new “Greta Thunberg” frog and the long road to its discovery 2022 Telemetro Panama discovers new species: border harlequin toad 2021 La Prensa New lizard species discovered in Panama 2015 Smithsonian (STRI) Scientists discover new poison dart frog species in Donoso, Panama 2014 Pensoft New rainfrog discovered in Panama, named after Greta Thunberg 2022 swissinfo · EFE A documentary tells the biological richness of Panama 2023 Mongabay A tiny Panamanian rainfrog named after Greta Thunberg 2022 Live Science New Leonardo DiCaprio snake threatened by mining 2023 Earth.com New rainfrog named after climate activist Greta Thunberg 2022 EurekAlert! Three newly described snake species for Panama 2023
Research lines
TaxonomyBiogeographyDNA barcodingBioacousticsConservation biologyCitizen science
Outreach
The Snakes of Panama
A free outreach guide to Panama’s venomous snakes and common harmless species.
Profiles