I am Dr. Luis M. Diaz, curator of herpetology at the Cuban National Museum of Natural History in Havana since 1998. I earned my PhD from the University of Havana in 2009, and have since dedicated my career to the study and conservation of Cuban amphibians and reptiles. Over the years, I have published more than 60 papers on the systematics, natural history, and conservation of these fascinating creatures, including the description of new species. In 2008, I published the "Guia Taxonomica de los Anfibios de Cuba" (Taxonomic Guide for the Amphibians of Cuba), the first comprehensive guide for identifying Cuban amphibians. Additionally, I am an enthusiastic birder and have guided over 20 groups of birders and herps-watchers in Cuba since 2003.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working as a visiting researcher at prestigious institutions such as The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the American Museum of Natural History, the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, and several others. My work has taken me to conferences and meetings in the USA, Italy, Colombia, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic. I have been awarded twice by the Cuban Academy of Sciences for my contributions to herpetology, and my guide on amphibians was recognized as the best book on natural sciences by the University of Havana in 2009. I have also received support from organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and the Amphibian Ark for my research projects. As a member of various international specialist groups, including the Amphibian Specialist Group, Anolis Specialist Group, and Iguana Specialist Group, I am committed to advancing the field of herpetology. For the past ten years, I have also taught introductory courses in Herpetology at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Havana.