Ryan J. R. McCleary

Ph.D. Candidate
Department of Zoology
University of Florida

El Rey the Florida cottonmouth                       Iris the mud snake          

(Agkistrodon piscivorus)                        (Farancia abacura)    

Contact Information:
Office:  326 Bartram Hall
Mailing address:    Department of Zoology
                            University of Florida
                            P.O. Box 118525
                            Gainesville, FL  32611-8525
Zoology Department phone:  (352) 392-1107
Zoology Department fax:  (352) 392-3704
E-mail:  mccleary@zoo.ufl.edu
Major professor:  Dr. Harvey Lillywhite

Major Interests:  My general field of interest is chemical ecology, the manner in which chemicals are used by different species.  Such interactions can include use of chemicals for defense and warning (skin toxins in amphibians, sequestered cardenolides in monarch butterflies), predation (venoms in snakes, spiders, etc.), as well as many other uses.  Specifically, I am interested in the evolution of venom in snakes.

Teaching Assignments:
        Current:   Physiology and Molecular Biology of Animals (formerly Animal Physiology) Lab (PCB 4723C--Summer 2007)
        Previous:  Physiology and Molecular Biology Lab (PCB 4723C)
                        Functional Vertebrate Anatomy Lab (ZOO 3713C)
                        Field Problems in Marine Biology (ZOO 4403C)
                        Cells, Organisms & Genetics (BSC 2007)
                        Integrated Principles of Biology Lab 1 (BSC 2010L)
                        Integrated Principles of Biology Lab 2 (BSC 2011L)
                        General Biology Lab (BIOL 1015, 1016)--Virginia Tech
                        Principles of Biology Lab (BIOL 1115, 1116)--Virginia Tech