Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.

People who study either reptiles or amphibians to learn more about these groups are called “herpetologists”

Reptiles/Amphibians are not closely related to each other.

Why we should study herpetology?

• Important to learn a “taxon-ology”

  • Learn about biodiversity

  • Huge diversity of living things; not only species diversities, but also diversity in ecology, anatomy, physiology, development, and genetics.

Amphibians

• Living amphibians consist of 3 major groups

  • Frogs and toads (Anura = anurans = No tails) 7,678 species

  • Salamanders (Caudata = caudaes = tailed) 816 species

  • Caecillians (Gymnophiona = gymnophonians, apodans = naked snake, no feet) 221 species.

Differences between frogs & toads.

• Frogs are often smooth-skinned, aquatic jumpers.

• Toads are often warty, dry-skinned terrestrial.

  • We call everything frogs

Differences between newts and salamanders

• Newts are generally more terrestrial and dry

Major groups of living amphibians

• Caecilians (Gymnophiona or Apoda)

• No limbs

Major groups of living reptiles

• Lizards & Snakes (Squamata or squadmates)

• Tuatara (Rhynchocephalia)

• Turtles and tortoises (Testudines , Chelonia)

• Crocodiles and Alligators (Crocodylidae, Alligatordae)

Tortoises are a group of turtles (family Testudinidae), they are terrestrial big, and slow.