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herpetology

/ˈhʌrpəˌtɑlədʒi/
IPA guide

Herpetology is the scientific study of reptiles and amphibians. If you're fascinated by frogs and crazy about crocodiles, you might want to learn more about herpetology.

The field of zoology is divided into specialties for studying different types of animals. There's ornithology for birds, entomology for insects — and herpetology, which focuses on creeping and slithering animals like toads, salamanders, snakes, turtles, alligators, and newts. Herpetology comes from the Greek herpeton, "reptile," or literally "creeping thing," and its root, herpein, "to creep."

Definitions of herpetology
  1. noun
    the branch of zoology concerned with reptiles and amphibians
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    type of:
    zoological science, zoology
    the branch of biology that studies animals
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