Matt Wilson
I am a teacher, wildlife photographer, author, and field herpetologist dedicated to documenting nature—with a lifelong focus on reptiles and amphibians.
What began in 2008 as The European Amphibian & Reptile Blog evolved into Amphibian & Reptile Travels in 2016 to reflect a growing global footprint beyond Europe. Seven years living in Thailand followed by my current base in Oman have provided exceptional hubs to conduct deep regional field surveys, photograph rare species, and document local ecosystems.
Over the past two decades, my work and life have been rooted across eight countries: the UK, Slovakia, Greece, France, Spain, Egypt, Thailand, and Oman.
CONTACT: mjwilsonherp1@gmail.com
Field Herpetology & Research
My field work focuses on observing, identifying, and photographing reptiles and amphibians in their native habitats. Through long-term living in key biodiversity hotspots—including seven years in the monsoon forests of Southeast Asia ,three years exploring the desert wadis, Hajar peaks, and Dhofar cloud forests of Oman and decades of exploring Mediterranean Europe—I conduct targeted diurnal and nocturnal field surveys. My primary focus is on species diagnostics, micro-habitat utilization, and behavioral observation, utilizing strict non-invasive field ethics to ensure animals are never harmed or unduly stressed.
Prior to living internationally, I worked for six years as an assistant herpetologist to Curator of Herpetology Andrew Gray at the Manchester Museum, the University of Manchester. These years allowed me to combine field work with captive breeding of endangered amphibian species as well as collaboration with in situ conservation bodies, specifically in Costa Rica. I also have a BA Hons degree in French and Spanish from the Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a PGCE from the same university.
Books & Publications
I am the co-author of Snakes of Peninsular Thailand, published by Pelagic Publishing. Born out of seven years of intensive field research across southern Thailand, this field guide offers detailed accounts, identification keys, and ecological insights into the region’s rich ophidian fauna. Beyond books, I publish detailed field trip reports and species write-ups on this website to serve as a resource for researchers, field herpers, and wildlife enthusiasts. Furthermore, I have written and co-written many scientific papers, specifically focusing on biogeography of reptiles in Europe.
Guided Expeditions
Drawing on nearly two decades of field experience and regional knowledge, I occasionally lead private, bespoke wildlife field trips during academic holiday periods. This all began back in 2011, when I led the first of several field expeditions with the Durrell School of Corfu for their annual Gerald Durrell’s Corfu week each spring. Despite barely being out of my teenage years, I was fortunate to work alongside mentors who supported me, such as Lee Durrell, and the three “Big Daves”; David Ashcroft, Dr David Bellamy, and Dr David Shimwell.
Looking ahead, I am developing dedicated, micro-group expeditions (strictly limited to 2–3 guests) focused on field herpetology, macro photography, and wildlife observation across Southeast Asia, Arabia, and Southern Europe. Keeping group sizes small ensures low habitat impact, maximum field time, and personalized instruction in species finding and wildlife photography.
Photography & Field Gear
Capturing detailed field diagnostics in challenging nocturnal and tropical environments requires reliable, high-performance equipment. In the field, I shoot with full-frame and crop-sensor Canon mirrorless camera systems, paired with specialized macro and fast telephoto lenses. My primary setup includes:
- Camera Bodies: Canon EOS R6 Mark II, Canon EOS R8, Canon EOS R7
- Macro & Telephoto Lenses: Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM, Canon RF 100-500mm f/f4.5-7.1 IS USM
- Lighting: Customized flash diffusion setups for macro wildlife photography
Get in Touch For questions regarding species identification, field reports, book enquiries, or future guided trips, feel free to drop a message via mjwilsonherp1@gmail.com or connect on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.