Gary Kyle Nicolau, born in South Africa, has had the privilege of seeing much of the country and the biodiversity it has to offer. His main interests are in reptiles and amphibians, specifically the conservation, evolution, and ecology of these organisms. Gary completed his BSc. in Zoology and Entomology, followed by his honors degree in Zoology at Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa. He is an avid wildlife photographer, field guide, and academic. Gary has traveled extensively across southern Africa, through his research, biodiversity tours, and personal travels. Through this, he has been able to discover several new species to science and make key natural history observations.

Gary is the Director of Cladistics Environmental Services, a company that performs terrestrial biodiversity work, specifically specialist surveys.

Additionally, Gary is the founder of the African Herpetological and Biodiversity Institute, focusing on growing the field of Herpetology in Africa, and providing research opportunities for Africans.