Rita S Mehta

User Rita S Mehta

User Professor, Chair of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

User831-459-1490

User831-459-3383 (Fax)

User rmehta2@ucsc.edu

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Physical & Biological Sciences Division

Professor, Chair of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Faculty

Environmental Studies Department

ELVer
Selected

Long Marine Lab Ocean Health Building
Coastal Biology Building 265

Long Marine Lab 153

By Appointment

CBB/EE Biology

I obtained my Bachelors degree from U.C. Berkeley and a Ph.D from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I was a postdoctoral researcher at U.C. Davis from 2006-2009.

Comparative physiology
Functional morphology
Behavioral ecology, Animal Behavior, Ethology

My research seeks to understand morphological, physiological, and behavioral evolution. I have a special interest in studying the mechanisms guiding diversification in vertebrate clades whose members have evolved an elongate and limb-reduced (or complete loss) body plan such as snakes, anguilliform fishes, and other eel-like vertebrates. I am also interested in the evolution of morphological and behavioral innovations in organismal design.

Animal Physiology
Comparative Physiology & Functional Morphology
Biomechanics

UCSC Chancellor's Achievement Award for Diversity 2015


"The Carl Gans Award," in recognition of Carl Gans' scientific career and editorial contributions to animal morphology, biomechanics, and functional biology. This is an annual award presented by the Chair of the Division of Comparative Biomechanics of the Society for the Study of Integrative and Comparative Biology.


Last modified: Jun 23, 2025