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All THS members can attend the symposiums and field trips of the Texas Herpetological Society (est. 1939). Join or renew your membership by clicking here.

We have an annual symposium in the fall where herpetologists present seminars on current research and a field expedition (campout) in the spring where we find and photograph reptiles and amphibians in the field.

THS Fall Symposium 2026:
Friday, October 9, 2026 Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center
1300 Riley Fuzzel Rd.
Spring, TX 77386

Click here to join before attending the symposium. We are grateful to our gracious hosts at the Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center, including Scott Boslow, for welcoming THS this year. We’re especially excited to gather in a comfortable indoor, air-conditioned venue with ample seating for a full day of presentations, conversation, and all things herpetology. Additional details, including the symposium schedule and other event information, will be shared as we get closer to October 9.

Call for Presentations

We are now accepting abstracts for oral presentations and would love to hear about your ongoing, completed, or upcoming herpetological research, conservation work, field projects, and other herp-related topics.

Abstract submission deadline: Wednesday, September 30, by end of day.

And there’s a little incentive to submit early: authors who submit their abstracts by Monday, September 21, will be entered into a drawing for a swag package from the Texas Herpetological Society and Devils River Conservancy.

Please submit abstracts to:

Romey Swanson: RomeySwanson@gmail.com

THS Spring Field Expedition 2027: TBA

Presenter Information

THS members are given the opportunity to submit abstracts to potentially present their research via seminar or poster at our annual fall symposium. Requests for abstracts are sent to members via email (join here).

Code of Conduct

The THS Code of Conduct outlines the welcoming and inclusive environment we expect for all THS members at our meetings and events so that everyone can have a good time and contribute to the advancement of herpetological research.

Purpose and Applicability
The Texas Herpetological Society (THS) is a community of individuals interested in amphibians and reptiles of Texas. Annual THS meetings and field events serve as safe and professional forums for individuals to engage with society members. As THS membership is open to all who would care to participate, no member should feel discouraged, unwelcome, or unsafe while at a THS function. Attendees of the annual THS meeting and THS affiliated events have the right to an environment free of harassment, discrimination, bullying, and all other forms of misconduct and inappropriate behavior. Misconduct discourages community engagement in wildlife appreciation and scientific inquiry thus violating the mission of THS. Therefore such behavior is strictly prohibited. All members and attendees of meetings and affiliated events agree to comply with the standards of behavior outlined here.

Prohibited Conduct
This document was formed following recommendations from Foxx et al. (2019) and modeling from definitions of misconduct and harassment presented in the Citations section below. Misconduct refers to unacceptable or improper behavior that can be considered disrespectful, threatening, or intimidating toward any participant or attendee of the THS Annual Meeting. Examples of particular forms of misconduct are listed below, but this is not necessarily an exhaustive list. Behavior that is acceptable to one person may not be acceptable to another, so one must use discretion to ensure that words and actions communicate respect for others. This is especially important for those in positions of seniority, as those in more junior positions may be reluctant to express their objections or discomfort regarding unwelcome behavior.

Inappropriate behavior and misconduct, while not explicit forms of harassment, reduce attendees' comfort at events by creating hostile environments through vulgarity, intimidation, and physical or verbal disruptions.

• For example, disrespectful or inappropriate disruption of talks, poster sessions, meetings, or social functions (e.g., jeering, yelling, or hostile comments or questions directed at a presenter);
• Stalking other meeting attendees;
• Use of inappropriate pet names or condescending nicknames without prior consent.

Discrimination or harassment on the basis of a Protected Trait (i.e., includes age, creed, color, gender, disability, marital status, national origin, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, military status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, transgender status, and any other category protected by U.S. federal laws or regulations) occurs when an individual or group is treated adversely on the basis of a Protected Trait.

• For example, it would violate this policy to deny members of a particular religion the opportunity to attend a THS event;
• Reject conference papers from those exhibiting a certain gender identity;
• Refuse to select an individual for an award on the basis of race.

• For example, threats or insinuations that lead the targeted individual(s) to reasonably believe that granting or denying sexual favors will affect their reputation and potential to hold an office, deliver a paper/poster, or win an award;
• Sexual advances, propositions, or demands that are not explicitly mutually agreeable to both parties;
• Repeatedly using sexual gestures, words, or sounds to describe a person;
• Non-consensual, unwelcome, or unnecessary physical contact including: touching, patting, hugging, or other invasions of personal space (i.e., sexual assault);
• Recurring comments or questions about an individual’s sexual prowess, sexual deficiencies, or sexual behavior.

• 911 for emergencies
• Incidents may be reported to any THS officer (i.e., President, Vice President, President-Elect, and/or Treasurer). Officers will consult one another about the incident only if the reporting individual approves.
• Reports will remain confidential to the extent possible, considering the need to conduct an adequate investigation and any legal requirements.

• THS officers will investigate the reported incident and based on the finding may dispense reprimands ranging from verbal warnings to banning offender(s) from future THS events.
• Report to Title IX or equivalent, if needed
• Report to Law enforcement, if needed