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