herpetology

[ hur-pi-tol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the branch of zoology dealing with reptiles and amphibians.

herpetology

/ ˌhɜːpɪtəˈlɒdʒɪk; ˌhɜːpɪˈtɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of reptiles and amphibians

herpetology

/ hûr′pĭ-tŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of reptiles and amphibians.

Derived Forms

• ˌherpeˈtologist, noun
• herpetologic, adjective
• ˌherpetoˈlogically, adverb

Other Words From

• her·pe·to·log·ic [hur-pi-tl-, oj, -ik], herpe·to·logi·cal adjective
• herpe·to·logi·cal·ly adverb
• herpe·tolo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of herpetology¹

1815–25; < Greek herpetó ( n ) a creeping thing (Compare hérpein to creep) + -logy; serpent

Word History and Origins

Origin of herpetology¹

C19: from Greek herpeton creeping animal, from herpein to creep

Example Sentences

Rachel Nuwer and Chang W. Lee each joined a nighttime salamander hunt in Kyoto, Japan, and visited a herpetology lab at Kyoto University while reporting this article.

From New York Times

But their herpetology hunt turned into a fungus find.

From New York Times

“It’s a remarkably weird thing,” said David Blackburn, the curator of herpetology at the Florida Museum and author of the study.

From New York Times

The May 2022 discovery and naming of the snake were disclosed in a study published Tuesday in Salamandra, a German journal of herpetology, the study of snakes.

From Washington Times

Jon Rold, supervisor of herpetology and entomology at the Houston Zoo, said it was a matter of luck that Mr. and Mrs. Pickles had bred successfully and that the eggs had been found in time.

From New York Times