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Welcome to The Wandering Herpetologist!
This website is dedicated to all things amphibian and reptile related.
Herpetology is the study of amphibians and reptiles. It comes from the Greek word herpeton meaning a creeping creature. Aristolte and Carolus Linnaeus, the scientist responsible for the taxonomic hierarchy we use today, didn’t much care for amphibians and reptiles. Linnaeus is quoted as calling them foul and loathsome things hence the creeping Greek name he gave them.
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This site was created in 2011 by a herpetologist named Sara. Herpetologists are people that study amphibians and reptiles – aka herps. The purpose of this site is to provide news and information about the fascinating organisms we call amphibians and reptiles.
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Please feel free to peruse all the pages on this site. Read through the Blog page to learn about topics in the field of herpetology. Take a glance at the Gallery to see photos and videos of amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. Have a question about herpetology and/or a certain amphibian or reptile? Ask The Herpetologist. For more herpetological resources head over to our Links and Educational Herpetology Resources pages where you’ll find links to other herpetology blogs, societies, products, and more including our Herps of Portland and Oregon smartphone applications. And if you are curious about the authors of this site, check out our About Us page to find out more. We are always looking for more authors to join us and share their experiences with herps. Contact us if you are interested in joining our team.
If you are interested in helping save amphibians and reptiles than visit our Conservation page to see what conservation activities we are currently aiding. Be sure to check out our Fundraiser and donate a few dollars to help a non-profit herp conservation organization.
If you enjoy the information on this site please consider showing your support by donating to one of our causes. Thank you!
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Happy Herping!
Random herp facts:
Total world numbers of amphibians and reptiles -
Amphibians -
- Anura (frogs and toads) ~ 5,600 species
- Caudata (salamanders) ~ 570 species
- Gymnophiona (caecilians) ~ 190 species
- Testudines (turtles, terrapins, and tortoises) ~ 300 species
- Sphenodontia (tuataras) – 2 species
- Squamata (snakes, lizards, and worm lizards) ~ 9,150 species
- Crocodilia (crocodiles, gavials, caimans, and alligators) – 23 species
- Plethontid salamanders have no lungs instead they breathe through their skin.
- You will not get warts from handling a toad (though it might pee on you).
- Snakes have no eyelids.
- Turtles don’t have teeth instead they have a hard beak.
- Geckos can lick their eyeballs with their tongues.
- Crocodiles can’t stick out their tongues.
- Frogs can use their eyeballs to help swallow food.
- Venomous snakes can still envemonate you after they’re dead.
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