Dictionary > Herpetology

Herpetology

Definition
noun
The branch of zoology that deals with reptiles and amphibians
Supplement
Herpetology is a sub-discipline of zoology that deals with reptiles (e.g. snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, amphisbaenids, crocodilians, and tuataras) and amphibians (e.g. frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians). Herpetology has a sub-discipline, i.e. batrachology. The latter is concerned primarily with studying amphibians.
This branch of zoology conducts studies on these animals to understand their biology, ethology, ecology, evolution, and medical importance. The toxins and the venoms from certain species may be useful in human medicine. Certain venoms have been utilized as a source of anti-coagulants for managing and treating stroke and heart attacks.
Experts in this field are referred to as herpetologist. Some of the well-known experts in herpetology are as follows:

  • Jean Marius René Guibé: a French naturalist who was the first to describe species such as Anodonthyla rouxae, Boophis williamsi, Mantella nigricans, Mantidactylus klemmeri, Mantidactylus microtis, Platypelis milloti, Plethodontohyla minuta, Rhinoleptus, Stumpffia roseifemoralis, and so on.
  • Gabriel Bibron: a French hertpetologist who did classify a large number of reptile species.
  • Franz Werner, an Austrian zoologist specializing in herpetology and entomology, described numerous species and other taxa of frogs, snakes, insects, and other organisms.

Word origin: Greek herpetón (“reptile”) + –logie (study or work)
See also:

Related form(s):

  • herpetologist (noun)


  • You will also like...

    Angle Oak Tree
    Seed Plants

    Seed plants are vascular plants. They differ from the other vascular plants in producing seeds that germinate into a new..

    Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems
    Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems

    There are many environmental factors that arise due to the usage of water in one way or another and for every action tha..

    green leaf - close up view
    Leaves

    Leaves are the major photosynthetic organ of a plant. Apart from that, they are also crucial to water movement. In this ..

    3D rendering of an antibody
    Passive and Active Types of Immunity

    Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell capable of producing a specific immune response to unique antigens. In thi..

    Neural Control Mechanisms
    Neural Control Mechanisms

    Neurons generate electric signals that they pass along to the other neurons or target tissues. In this tutorial, you wil..

    Neurology of Illusions
    Neurology of Illusions

    Illusions are the perceptions and sensory data obtained from situations in which human error prevents us from seeing the..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics