Herpetology Notes Lecture 1

Herpetology

The study of reptiles and amphibians.

Herpetologists

People who study reptiles or amphibians to learn more about these groups.

Taxon-ology

The study of different taxonomic groups.

Biodiversity

The variety of living organisms in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Diversity

The range of differences or variations within a group or system.

Amphibians

A group of animals that includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians.

Anura

A group of amphibians that includes frogs and toads, characterized by the absence of tails.

Caudata

A group of amphibians that includes salamanders, characterized by their tailed appearance.

Gymnophiona

A group of amphibians that includes caecilians, characterized by their limbless bodies.

Frogs

Smooth-skinned, aquatic jumpers among the anurans.

Toads

Warty, dry-skinned terrestrial amphibians among the anurans.

Newts

Terrestrial and dry amphibians, often more terrestrial than salamanders.

Caecilians

Limbless amphibians belonging to the group Gymnophiona or Apoda.

Lizards & Snakes

Major group of living reptiles belonging to the order Squamata.

Tuatara

A reptile belonging to the order Rhynchocephalia.

Turtles and Tortoises

Reptiles belonging to the order Testudines or Chelonia.

Crocodiles and Alligators

Reptiles belonging to the families Crocodylidae and Alligatordae.

Tortoises

A group of turtles belonging to the family Testudinidae, known for being terrestrial, big, and slow.