Research interest
I am a PhD candidate in Dr. Anna Savage’s lab at the University of Central Florida. Broadly, I’m interested in evolutionary ecology and research that informs conservation practices. I'm most interested in study systems that involve species within the Bufonidae and Viperidae families.
research with pygmy rattlesnakes
I am investigating how disease influences the ecological and evolutionary processes of Florida pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius). I study S. miliarius across the state, integrating disease ecology, genomics, and long-term monitoring to understand survival and selection in the context of fungal pathogens and the invasive pentastome, Raillietiella orientalis.
Funders
The Orianne Society, Rattlesnake Conservancy, American Museum of Natural History, Society for the Study of Evolution, American Philosophical Society, University of Central Florida, and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, The Explorers Club, and The Morris Animal Foundation.
research with pentastomes
I am the co-creator and leader of Snake Lungworm Alliance and monitoring (SLAM). I coordinate the collection of snake pentastome samples from across the southeastern United States which has opened pathways to research on
- prevalence and intensity of R. orientalis infections across Florida snakes
- new host species, infections in the pet trade, and the extent of the geographic range expansion of R. orientalis
- a novel PCR assay for the detection of Raillietiella orientalis infections
- genomic resources
- specimen and DNA catalog of hundreds of pentastomes (including native pentastomes!)
Funders
North Carolina Herpetological Society Research Grant 2024
Publications
2026
Mishin, C. M., Farrell, T. M., Palmisano, J. N., Ossiboff, R. J., McCray, M., Haynes, E., Maerz, J. C., Meichner, K., Zhang, J., Garrett, K. B., Yabsley, M. J., Ortega, J., Cleveland, C. A., & Nemeth, N. M. (2026). Health assessment and multipathogen surveillance of free-ranging snakes in the southeastern United States. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 13, 1531792.
Palmisano, J. N., Farrell, T. M., Harman, M. E. A., Walden, H. D. S., Hauck, H., Pushinsky, A., Brennan, M., & Ossiboff, R. J. (2026). Discovery of novel definitive hosts broadens the known host range of the invasive pentastome, Raillietiella orientalis, across snakes, lizards, and chelonians. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 62, 445–451.
2025
Anaya, C., Theodule, J., Palmisano, J. N., & Farrell, T. M. (2025). Natural history note on parasites in Rhinella horribilus. Herpetological Review, 55(3), 416–417.
Farrell, T. M., Palmisano, J. N., Ossiboff, R. J., Walden, H. D., & Ortega, J. (2025). Native and nonindigenous anurans and lizards are intermediate hosts for the invasive pentastome parasite Raillietiella orientalis in Florida. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 113(3), 573–578.
Palmisano, J. N., Hazelrig, C., Gazil, J., Hanco, J., Farrell, T. M., Bogan, J., Nemeth, N., & Savage, A. (2025). A novel PCR assay and sampling techniques for the detection of Raillietiella orientalis. Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science, 3, 1531792.
Perelman, Z., & Palmisano, J. N. (2025). Extended mate accompaniment and a novel context for female body-bridging in pygmy rattlesnakes, Sistrurus miliarius (Linnaeus, 1766). Reptiles & Amphibians, 32(1), e23171.
2024
Horvath, S., Palmisano, J. N., Savage, A. E., Martin, E., Donini, J., Metcalf, M. F., et al. (2024). Farancia abacura (red-bellied mudsnake). Parasites. Herpetological Review, 54, 449.
Lind, C. M., Agugliaro, J., Ortega, J., Palmisano, J. N., Lorch, J. M., Truong, T. B., & Farrell, T. M. (2024). Glucocorticoid and glycemic responses to immune challenge in a viviparous snake afflicted with an emerging mycosis. Journal of Experimental Biology, 227(22), jeb247962.
Olson, D. H., Palmisano, J. E., Evans, P. M., Ronnenberg, K. L., Christman, M. R., Goodman, R. W., Gray, M. J., Martel, A., & Pasmans, F. R. (2024). Disease update from the Global Amphibian and Reptile Disease Conference and the World Congress of Herpetology, Kuching, Malaysia, August 2024. Herpetological Review, 55, 499–506.
Palmisano, J. N., Kesselring, J., Morgan, T., May, P., & Farrell, T. M. (2024). Maximum size and longevity in pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius): The importance of field data. Southeastern Naturalist, 23(4), 81–83.
2023
Brosnan, E. B., Palmisano, J. N., Martin, J. K., & Fitak, R. R. (2023). Novel genome sequences of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, the causative agent of snake fungal disease. Microbiology Resource Announcements, e00093-23.
Palmisano, J. N., Farrell, T. M., Gustafson, T. M., & Fitak, R. R. (2023). The mitochondrial genome of the pentastome parasite Raillietiella orientalis Hett, 1915 (Raillietiellida; Raillietiellidae) with notes on its phylogenetic position. Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 8(7), 756–759.
Palmisano, J. N., Farrell, T. M., Hazelrig, C. M., & Brennan, M. N. (2023). Documenting range expansion of the invasive pentastome parasite, Raillietiella orientalis, using southern black racer and eastern coachwhip road mortality. Southeastern Naturalist, 22(1), 17–22.
2022
Palmisano, J. N., Bockoven, C., McPherson, S. M., Ossiboff, R. J., Walden, H. D., & Farrell, T. M. (2022). Infection experiments indicate that common Florida anurans and lizards may serve as intermediate hosts for the invasive pentastome parasite, Raillietiella orientalis. Journal of Herpetology, 56(3), 355–361.
Mishin, C. M., Farrell, T. M., Palmisano, J. N., Ossiboff, R. J., McCray, M., Haynes, E., Maerz, J. C., Meichner, K., Zhang, J., Garrett, K. B., Yabsley, M. J., Ortega, J., Cleveland, C. A., & Nemeth, N. M. (2026). Health assessment and multipathogen surveillance of free-ranging snakes in the southeastern United States. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 13, 1531792.
Palmisano, J. N., Farrell, T. M., Harman, M. E. A., Walden, H. D. S., Hauck, H., Pushinsky, A., Brennan, M., & Ossiboff, R. J. (2026). Discovery of novel definitive hosts broadens the known host range of the invasive pentastome, Raillietiella orientalis, across snakes, lizards, and chelonians. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 62, 445–451.
2025
Anaya, C., Theodule, J., Palmisano, J. N., & Farrell, T. M. (2025). Natural history note on parasites in Rhinella horribilus. Herpetological Review, 55(3), 416–417.
Farrell, T. M., Palmisano, J. N., Ossiboff, R. J., Walden, H. D., & Ortega, J. (2025). Native and nonindigenous anurans and lizards are intermediate hosts for the invasive pentastome parasite Raillietiella orientalis in Florida. Ichthyology & Herpetology, 113(3), 573–578.
Palmisano, J. N., Hazelrig, C., Gazil, J., Hanco, J., Farrell, T. M., Bogan, J., Nemeth, N., & Savage, A. (2025). A novel PCR assay and sampling techniques for the detection of Raillietiella orientalis. Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science, 3, 1531792.
Perelman, Z., & Palmisano, J. N. (2025). Extended mate accompaniment and a novel context for female body-bridging in pygmy rattlesnakes, Sistrurus miliarius (Linnaeus, 1766). Reptiles & Amphibians, 32(1), e23171.
2024
Horvath, S., Palmisano, J. N., Savage, A. E., Martin, E., Donini, J., Metcalf, M. F., et al. (2024). Farancia abacura (red-bellied mudsnake). Parasites. Herpetological Review, 54, 449.
Lind, C. M., Agugliaro, J., Ortega, J., Palmisano, J. N., Lorch, J. M., Truong, T. B., & Farrell, T. M. (2024). Glucocorticoid and glycemic responses to immune challenge in a viviparous snake afflicted with an emerging mycosis. Journal of Experimental Biology, 227(22), jeb247962.
Olson, D. H., Palmisano, J. E., Evans, P. M., Ronnenberg, K. L., Christman, M. R., Goodman, R. W., Gray, M. J., Martel, A., & Pasmans, F. R. (2024). Disease update from the Global Amphibian and Reptile Disease Conference and the World Congress of Herpetology, Kuching, Malaysia, August 2024. Herpetological Review, 55, 499–506.
Palmisano, J. N., Kesselring, J., Morgan, T., May, P., & Farrell, T. M. (2024). Maximum size and longevity in pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius): The importance of field data. Southeastern Naturalist, 23(4), 81–83.
2023
Brosnan, E. B., Palmisano, J. N., Martin, J. K., & Fitak, R. R. (2023). Novel genome sequences of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, the causative agent of snake fungal disease. Microbiology Resource Announcements, e00093-23.
Palmisano, J. N., Farrell, T. M., Gustafson, T. M., & Fitak, R. R. (2023). The mitochondrial genome of the pentastome parasite Raillietiella orientalis Hett, 1915 (Raillietiellida; Raillietiellidae) with notes on its phylogenetic position. Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 8(7), 756–759.
Palmisano, J. N., Farrell, T. M., Hazelrig, C. M., & Brennan, M. N. (2023). Documenting range expansion of the invasive pentastome parasite, Raillietiella orientalis, using southern black racer and eastern coachwhip road mortality. Southeastern Naturalist, 22(1), 17–22.
2022
Palmisano, J. N., Bockoven, C., McPherson, S. M., Ossiboff, R. J., Walden, H. D., & Farrell, T. M. (2022). Infection experiments indicate that common Florida anurans and lizards may serve as intermediate hosts for the invasive pentastome parasite, Raillietiella orientalis. Journal of Herpetology, 56(3), 355–361.