< Sc|M >: Herpetology: Study Materials on Amphibians and Reptiles

Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), endemic to Madagascar.
Image courtesy link

-by Aaron S. Johnson

Introduction:

Herpetology is the zoological study of amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, caecilians [legless amphibians]) and reptiles (turtles/tortoises, snakes, lizards, amphisbaenians [non-snake, legless squamate clade], crocodilians, tuataras). A herpetologist is an expert in amphibian and reptile behavior, diet, ecology, taxonomy, physiology, anatomy, evolution, health, conservation, and husbandry.

Amphibians have been around for over 370 million years (m.y.) and reptiles for 310-320 m.y. Amphibians are the descendants of a fishlike ancestor, whereas reptiles descended from a common amphibianlike ancestor. Together, reptiles and amphibians are collectively known as "herps" and are the common ancestors of birds and mammals.

Herps may be ectotherms, but they are voracious eaters of everything humans consider as "pests" and carriers of disease, e.g. insects, arachnids, slugs, rodents. Needless to say, world ecological systems would collapse without them. With the decline of amphibians and reptiles due to herbicides, pesticides, pet trade, destruction of the environment, climate change, invasive species, and pathogenic microbes, the importance of these creatures have grown ever more apparent. Accordingly, modern herpetologists should have expertise in microbiology, chemistry, climatology, conservation, and even business administration, communications, and sociology in order to professionally problem solve as difficult issues arise.

To be sure, reptiles and amphibians aren't slimy, stupid, nasty creatures. In fact, amphibians (such as frogs and salamanders) can be soft like the inner part of a peach, and reptiles range from smooth, silky scales (like snakes) to dry and rough scales (certain lizards and tortoises). They are capable, beautifully adapted animals, possessing diverse and unique ways of life. Some species are more intelligent than others, some are down right aggressive while others are calm, sweet, and personable, displaying behaviors and personalities unique to the individual animal. Altogether, if you give herps a chance, you'll find you like them better than you thought, and you may even become an enthusiast. We call them "herpers."

Above and below, I have provided links to help you in your studies in herpetology. If by chance a link is dead, especially since some provide access to documentaries on Youtube, please let us know or do a simple web search for the missing item. You'll also notice that many of the terms (e.g. caecilians, snakes, decline of amphibians) in the above paragraphs take you to Wikipedia or another site dedicated to the topic; just click it and you're there.

Banded Bull Frog/Chubby Frog
(Kaloula pulchra), native to South East Asia
Image courtesy link

Documentaries and Videos:

Amphibians

BBC: Life in Cold Blood: Land Invaders

Frogs: The Thin Green Line

Bullfrog Eats (Nat Geo)

Axotol: Documentary on the Bizarre Mexican Salamander

Metamorphosis: Tale of a Wetland

Reptiles

BBC: Life in Cold Blood: The Cold Blooded Truth

BBC: Life in Cold Blood: Armored Giants

BBC: Life in Cold Blood: Dragons of the Dry

BBC: Life in Cold Blood: Sophisticated Serpents PLAYLIST

The Race to Save the Tortoise (CBS 60 Minutes)

Lonesome George (Galapagos Tortoise)

The Reptiles: Turtles and Tortoises (Nature Documentary)

BBC NaturalWorld: One Million Snake Bites

Eastern Box Turtle (male)
(Terrapene c. carolina), native to eastern United States
Image courtesy link

National Geographic: Search for the Super Snake

The Evolution of Venom

Meet the Locals: Tuatara

David Attenborough/BBC: Madagascar: Lost Worlds (includes reptiles/amphibians)

Black Mamba

Reptiles: Wikipedia, resources, and other websites

List of Reptiles (Taxonomic list of extant reptiles by family, subclasses, superorders, and orders)

Turtles and Tortoises

Subclass Anapsida (Anapsids)

List of Testudines/Chelonii (turtles and tortoises) taxonomic families

Tuatara (male) reproductively active at over 100 years of age
(Sphenodon punctatus), distinct from lizards, endemic to New Zealand
Image courtesy link

World Chelonian Trust (turtles and tortoises)

Turtle Conservancy (Behler Chelonian Center)