herpetology
Studying cold-blooded vertebrates
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with reptiles and amphibians—snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, salamanders, and their kin.
The grouping is traditional rather than evolutionary, since amphibians are not closely related to reptiles.
A practitioner is a herpetologist; informally, a herper.
She's studying herpetology, focusing on venomous snakes.
Elongated limbless reptiles
- lizardsSmall scaly reptiles
- turtlesShell-backed reptiles
- crocodiliansOrder of large semiaquatic reptiles
- tuatarasPrehistoric reptile species
geckos · chameleons · iguanas · tortoises · pythons · boas · vipers · rattlesnakes
Science of categorical arrangement
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- phylogeneticsScience of ancestral relationships
- systematicsScience of classifying organisms
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
biogeography · ecology · ethology · mark-recapture · pitfall traps · field guides
Glass-walled growing enclosure
- vivariumEnclosure for living specimens
- captive breedingReproducing animals under human care
- heat lampsBulbs emitting infrared radiation
- humidity controlManaging air's water content
substrate · enclosure · feeding · thermoregulation · quarantine · veterinary care
Leaping, croaking amphibians
- salamandersTailed amphibians, often aquatic
- newtsSmall semiaquatic salamanders
- toadsWarty tailless amphibians
- axolotlPermanently larval salamander
tadpoles · tree frogs · mudpuppies · sirens · metamorphosis · larvae · gills · ectothermy
Organisms facing extinction risk
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- wildlife traffickingIllicit trade in animals
- reintroductionAct of bringing back
climate impact · wetland protection · biodiversity hotspots · sanctuary · species recovery
snakes
Elongated limbless reptiles
- lizardsSmall scaly reptiles
- turtlesShell-backed reptiles
- crocodiliansOrder of large semiaquatic reptiles
tuataras · geckos · chameleons · iguanas · tortoises · pythons · boas · vipers · rattlesnakes · monitors
taxonomy
Science of categorical arrangement
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- phylogeneticsScience of ancestral relationships
- systematicsScience of classifying organisms
fieldwork · biogeography · ecology · ethology · mark-recapture · pitfall traps · field guides
terrarium
Glass-walled growing enclosure
- vivariumEnclosure for living specimens
- captive breedingReproducing animals under human care
- heat lampsBulbs emitting infrared radiation
humidity control · substrate · enclosure · feeding · thermoregulation · quarantine · veterinary care
frogs
Leaping, croaking amphibians
- salamandersTailed amphibians, often aquatic
- newtsSmall semiaquatic salamanders
- toadsWarty tailless amphibians
axolotl · tadpoles · tree frogs · mudpuppies · sirens · metamorphosis · larvae · gills · ectothermy
endangered species
Organisms facing extinction risk
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- CITESWildlife trade agreement
- wildlife traffickingIllicit trade in animals
reintroduction · climate impact · wetland protection · biodiversity hotspots · sanctuary · species recovery
- sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology
- academic fieldsmathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history
- biology termscell, DNA, genetics, genetic, evolution
- natural historynatural history, natural history museum, naturalist, naturalists, natural philosophers
- ologiesbiology, geology, psychology, sociology, ecology
- zoologymammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects
herpetologymammalogy
Science of mammals
ornithology · entomology · ichthyology · primatology · arachnology