2025

Barends, J.M. and B. Maritz (2025) Seasonal shifts in prey availability and low feeding requirements of African egg‐eating snakes (Dasypeltis scabra). Journal of Zoology. [in press] doi: 10.1111/jzo.70054

Scholtz, K.J., Alexander, G.J., Beck, T.F., Maritz, R.A., and B. Maritz (2025) The impact of weather variation on the body condition of cape cobras (Naja nivea) in the Kalahari—implications for climate change. Journal of Arid Environments. [in press] doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105398

van Wyk, K.M. and B. Maritz (2025). The Agony of Choice: Comparing Abundance Estimates from Multiple N-Mixture Model Variants Fitted to a Reptile Community Dataset. Journal of Herpetology. 59(2): 1–13. doi: 10.1670/2612543

Barends, J.M., Bassier, I., Maritz, R.A., and B. Maritz (2025) Contrasting three diet datasets for the African brown house snake, Boaedon capensis. African Journal of Herpetology. 74(1): 1–10. doi: 10.1080/21564574.2024.1145852

2024

Clements, H.S., Do Linh San, E., Hempson, G., Linden, B., Maritz B., et al. (2024) The bii4africa dataset of faunal and floral population intactness estimates across Africa’s major land uses. Scientific Data. 11(1): 191. doi: 10.1038/s41597-023-02832-6 (see link for the full author list)

2023

Maritz, B. (2023) Book Review: A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa, Third Edition, by Johan Marais (with Luke Kemp), 2022, Struik Publishers, Cape Town, 360 pp. African Journal of Herpetology. 72(1): 91–93.

2022

Harper, J.R.M., van Wilgen, N.J., Turner, A.A., Tolley, K.A., Maritz, B., Clusella‐Trullas, S., da Silva, J.M., Cunningham, S.J., Cheney, C., de Villiers, A.L., Measey, J., and W. Foden (2022) Application of a trait‐based climate change vulnerability assessment to determine management priorities at protected area scale. Conservation Science and Practice. 4(8): e12756. doi: 10.1111/csp2.12756

Barends, J.M. and B. Maritz (2022) Dietary specialization and habitat shifts in a clade of Afro-Asian Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae: Colubrinae). Ichthyology & Herpetology. 110(2): 278–291. doi: 10.1643/h2021058

Barends, J.M. and B. Maritz (2022) Snake predators of bird eggs: a review and bibliography. Journal of Field Ornithology. 93(2): 1. doi: 10.5751/JFO-00088-930201

Taft, J.M., Maritz, B., and K.A., Tolley (2022) Stable climate corridors promote gene flow in the Cape sand snake species complex (Psammophiidae). Zoologica Scripta. 51: 58–75. doi: 10.1111/zsc.12514

2021

Barends, J.M., Maritz, R.A., and B. Maritz (2021) Natural History Notes: Dasypeltis scabra Feeding. African Herp News. 78: 54–56. [HAA]

Maritz, B., Hofmann, E.P., Maritz, R.A., Greene, H.W., Grundler, M.C., and A.M. Durso (2021) Challenges and opportunities in the study of snake diets. Herpetological Review. 52(4): 769–773. [SSAR]

Alexander, G.J., Tolley, K.A., Maritz, B., McKechnie, A., Manger, et al (2021) Excessive red tape is strangling biodiversity research in South Africa. Journal of South African Science. 117: 1–4. doi: 10.17159/sajs.2021/10787 (see link for the full author list)

Maritz, B., Barends, J.M., Mohamed, R., Maritz, R.A., and G.J. Alexander (2021) Repeated dietary shifts in elapid snakes (Squamata: Elapidae) revealed by ancestral state reconstruction. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society. 134: 975–986. doi: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab115

Barends, J.M. and B. Maritz (2021) Specialized morphology, not relatively large head size, facilitates competition between a small-bodied specialist and large-bodied generalist competitors. Journal of Zoology. 315: 213–224. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12914

Maritz, B., Rawoot, A., and R. van Huyssteen (2021) Testing assertions of dietary specialisation: a case study of the diet of Aparallactus capensis. African Journal of Herpetology. 70(1): 61–67. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12914

2020

Maritz, R., Conradie, W., Sardinha, C., Peto, A., Chechene, A., and B. Maritz (2020) Ophiophagy and cannibalism in African vine snakes (Colubridae: Thelotornis). African Journal of Ecology. 58: 543-547. doi: 10.1111/aje.12702

Maritz, B., van Heerden, M. and T. Slade (2020) Natural History Notes: Pseudaspis cana Diet. African Herp News. 74: 72–74. [HAA]

Maritz, B. and R. Maritz (2020, 5 August) How we tracked the eating habits of snakes in Africa with the help of a Facebook group. The Conversation. [article] [podcast]

Maritz, R. and B. Maritz (2020) Sharing for science: high-resolution trophic interactions revealed rapidly by social media. PeerJ. 8: e9485. doi: 10.7717/peerj.9485

Barends, J., Pietersen, D.W., Zambatis, G., Tye, D.R., and B. Maritz (2020) Sampling bias in reptile occurrence data for the Kruger National Park. Koedoe. 62: 1–9. doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v62i1.1579

2019

Maritz, R. and B. Maritz (2019) Green alert. Wild Magazine. Tip Africa Publishing. 48: 44–49. [pdf]

Cloete, B.N., Mohamed, R., Ponton, T.J., Tokota, S., and B. Maritz (2019) Geographical Distributions: Gerrhosaurus typicus. African Herp News. 71: 40–42. [HAA]

Tolley, K.A., Weeber, J., Maritz, B., Verburgt, L., Bates, M.F., Conradie, W., Hofmeyr, M.D., Turner, A.A., da Silva, J.M., and G.J. Alexander (2019) No safe haven: Protection levels show imperilled South African reptiles not sufficiently safe-guarded despite low average extinction risk. Biological Conservation. 233: 61–72. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.02.006

Maritz, R. and B. Maritz (2019) Head to head. Wild Magazine. Tip Africa Publishing. 47: 16–19. [pdf]

Smith, C., Layloo, I., Maritz, R., and B. Maritz (2019) Sexual dichromatism does not translate into sex‐based differences in morphology or diet for the African boomslang. Journal of Zoology. 308: 253–208. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12670

Maritz, B., Alexander, G.J., and R. Maritz (2019) The underappreciated extent of cannibalism and ophiophagy in African cobras. Ecology. 100(2): e02522. doi: 10.1002/ecy.2522

2018

Maritz, B. (2018) Natural History Notes: Philothamnus Predation. African Herp News. 68: 48–49. [HAA]

Maritz, R. and B. Maritz (2018) Studying the understudied: Reptile Diversity in African Savannas Field Course. Quest Magazine. Academy of Science of South Africa. 14(2): 18–21. [pdf]

Maritz, R. and B. Maritz (2018) Snacks for sneaks. Wild Magazine. Tip Africa Publishing. 43: 63–64. [pdf]

2017

Layloo, I., Smith, C. and B. Maritz (2017) Diet and feeding in the Cape Cobra, Naja nivea. African Journal of Herpetology. 66(2): 147–153. doi: 10.1080/21564574.2017.1388297

2016

Maritz, B., Penner, J., Martins, M., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Spear, S., Alencar, L.R.V., Sigala-Rodriguez, J., Messenger, K., Clark, R.W., Soorae, P., Luiselli, L., Jenkins, C., and H. Greene (2016) Identifying global priorities for the conservation of vipers. Biological Conservation. 204: 94–102. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.05.004

Maritz, B., Kgditse, M., and G.J. Alexander (2016) Snake body frequency distributions are robust to the description of novel species. Ecosphere. 7(5): e01348. doi: 10.1002/ecs2.1348

Tolley, K.A., Alexander, G.J., Branch, W.R., Bowles, P., and B. Maritz (2016) Conservation status and threats for African reptiles. Biological Conservation. 204: 63–71. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.04.006

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2016) Scale-dependent orientation in movement paths: a case study of an African viper. Ethology. 122(3): 207–214. doi: 10.1111/eth.12459

2015

Miller, A.K., Maritz, B., McKay, S., Glaudas, X., and G.J. Alexander (2015) An ambusher’s arsenal: chemical crypsis in the puff adder (Bitis arietans). Proceedings Royal Society B. 282(1821): 20152182.  doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2182 [supplemental]

Alexander, G.J. and B. Maritz (2015) Sampling interval affects the estimation of movement parameters in four species of African snake. Journal of Zoology. 297(4): 309–318. doi: 10.1111/jzo.12280

Maritz, B. and L. Breytenbach (2015) Natural History Note: Acontias plumbeus Agonistic Behaviour. African Herp News. 62: 30–31. [HAA]

Maritz, B., Blackburn, J.L. and P. Huang (2015) Natural History Note: Gonionotophis nyassae Diet. African Herp News. 61: 25–26. [HAA]

Maritz, B., Blackburn, J.L, and P. Huang (2015) Natural History Note: Amblyodipsas polylepis Mimicry. African Herp News. 61: 23–24. [HAA]

2014

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2014) Namaqua Dwarf Adders are generalist predators. African Journal of Herpetology. 63(1): 79–86. doi: 10.1080/21564574.2013.836137

2013

Böhm, M. et al. (2013) The conservation status of the world’s reptiles. Biological Conservation. 157: 372–385. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2012.07.015(see link for the full author list)

Drake, D.C., Maritz, B., Jacobs, S., Crous, C.J., Engelbrecht, A., Etale, E., Fourie, M., Furniss, D.G., Scott, S.L., Parusnath, S., and D.R. Tye (2013) The propagation and dispersal misinformation in ecology: is there a relationship between citation accuracy and journal impact factor? Hydrobiologia. 702: 1–4. doi: 10.1007/s10750-012-1392-6

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2013) Namaqua Dwarf Adders must breed frequently: the problem with being small. Journal of Zoology. 289: 27–31. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2012.00957.x

Maritz, B., Wallner, A., and Deans, R. (2013) Natural History Note: Bitis parviocula Reproduction. African Herp News. 59: 28–29. [HAA]

Maritz, B. (2013) Natural History Note: Bitis arietans Predation. African Herp News. 59: 21–28. [HAA]

2012

Maritz, B. (2012) To run or hide?: escape behavior in a cryptic African snake. African Zoology. 47: 270–274. doi: 10.3377/004.047.0215

Maritz, B. (2012) Natural History Note: Meroles knoxii Forced copulation. African Herp News. 57: 17. [HAA]

Maritz, B. (2012) Natural History Note: Bitis schneideri Relative prey size. African Herp News. 57: 16. [HAA]

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2012) Movement patterns in the smallest viper, Bitis schneideri. Copeia. 2012(4): 732–737. doi: 10.1643/CE-12-023

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2012) Population density and survival estimates of the African viperid, Bitis schneideri. Herpetologica. 68(2): 195–202. doi: 10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-11-00043.1

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2012) Dwarfs on the move: Spatial ecology of the world’s smallest viper, Bitis schneideri. Copeia. 2012(1): 115–120. doi: 10.1643/CH-11-048

2011

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2011) Morphology, sexual dimorphism, and growth in the smallest viperid, Bitis schneideri (Reptilia: Squamata: Viperidae). Journal of Herpetology. 45(4): 457–462. doi: 10.1670/10-281.1

2010

Maritz, B. and S.L. Scott (2010) Assessing the threat of avian predation on a small viperid snake. African Zoology. 45(2): 309–314. doi: 10.3377/004.045.0209

Branch, W.R. and B. Maritz (2010) Geographical Distributions: Acontias namaquensis. African Herp News. 51: 28–29. [HAA]

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2010) Geographical Distributions:Dendroaspis polylepis. African Herp News. 51: 27–28. [HAA]

Alexander, G.J. and B. Maritz (2010) Natural History Note: Bitis arietans partial resistance to Naja venom. African Herp News. 50: 34–36. [HAA]

2009

Masterson, G.P.R., Maritz, B., Mackay, D., and G.J. Alexander (2009) The impacts of past cultivation on the reptiles in a South African grassland. African Journal of Herpetology. 58(2): 71–84. doi: 10.1080/21564574.2007.9635561

Wessels, B.R. and B. Maritz (2009) Natural History Note: Bitis schneideri Diet. Herpetological Review. 40(4): 440. [SSAR]

Maritz, B. (2009) Natural History Note: Microacontias litoralis copulation. Herpetological Review. 40(2): 223. [SSAR]

2008

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2008) Breaking ground: quantitative fossorial herpetofauna in South Africa. African Journal of Herpetology. 58(1): 1–14. doi: 10.1080/21564574.2009.9635575

Maritz, B. (2008) Namaqua Dwarf Adder (Bitis schneideri) envenomation. South African Medical Journal. 98(10): 788. issn: 2078-5135

Masterson, G.P.R., Maritz, B., and G.J. Alexander (2008) Effect of fire history and habitat structure on herpetofauna in a South African Grassland. Applied Herpetology. 5: 129–143. doi: 10.1080/21564574.2007.9635561 

2007

Maritz, B. (2007) Natural History Note: Mehelya nyassae feeding. Herpetological Review. 38(3): 341. [SSAR]

Maritz, B. and G.J. Alexander (2007) Herpetofaunal utilisation of riparian buffer zones in an agricultural landscape, in Mtunzini, South Africa. African Journal of Herpetology. 56(2): 163–169. doi: 10.1080/21564574.2007.9635561

Maritz, B., Masterson, G.P.R., Mackay, D., and G.J. Alexander (2007) The effect of funnel trap type and size of pitfall trap on trap success: implications for ecological field studies. Amphibia-Reptilia. 28(3): 321–328. issn: 1568-5381

Maritz, B., Masterson, G.P.R., Mackay, D. and G.J. Alexander (2007) Geographic Distribution: Xenopus muelleri. Herpetological Review. 38(2): 216. [SSAR]