Learn about the biological and ecological characteristics of reptiles and amphibians as well as relevant conservation issues.
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. Herpetology as a scientific study and as a hobby can have positive impacts on the conservation of threatened reptile and amphibian species.
Lesson Structure
There are 9 lessons in this course:- Introduction to Herpetology
- Class Reptilia (Reptiles)
- Reptile Biology
- Class Amphibia (Amphibians)
- Amphibian Biology
- Ecology of Reptiles
- Ecology of Amphibians
- Conservation Issues
- Keeping Reptiles and Amphibians
Lesson Aims
- Discuss the nature and scope of reptiles.
- Identify credible resources, and begin to develop networking with organisations and individuals involved with the study of reptiles around the world.
- Describe a range of different reptile species, including distinguishing characteristics, their needs (eg. environmental, food, etc) and behaviour.
- Identify and explain the anatomy and physiology of reptiles
- Discuss the nature and scope of amphibians
- Identify credible resources, and begin to develop networking with organisations and individuals involved with the study of amphibians around the world.
- Discuss the nature and scope of amphibians
- Identify credible resources, and begin to develop networking with organisations and individuals involved with the study of amphibians around the world.
- Describe the ecological requirements, reproduction and lifecycles of amphibians
- Describe the behaviour of a range of different amphibian species.
- Explain conservation issues that are impacting upon populations of reptiles and amphibians.
- Explain the management of reptiles and amphibians in captivity
Scope of Amphibians and Reptiles
Reptiles include turtles, lizards, snakes and crocodiles. They are ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates. They can live independently from the water and ambient air humidity due to their drying-resistant integument (skin) and they have foetal membranes that protect their embryos (egg shells or membranes). Reptiles are classified into the class Reptilia.
Living reptiles can be divided into the following subclasses:
• Subclass Anapsida (turtles)
• Subclass Lepidosauria (tuataras, scaled reptiles)
• Subclass Archosauria (crocodilians)
These subclasses can then be further divided into orders and families.
Subclass Anapsida.
Animals within this subclass are distinguished by a skull that characteristically has no openings in bone that covers the temporal area. These animals are ancient and many consider them to be ancestors to all other groups of reptiles (for this reason they are called “stem reptiles”).
• Order Testudines (turtles) also referred to as Testudinata
o Suborder Chelydridae (snapping turtles)
o Suborder Pleurodira (sideneck turtles)
Subclass Lepidosauria
• Order Rhynchocephalia (tuataras)
o Suborder Sphenodontida
• Order Squamata (scaled reptiles – snakes and lizards)
o Suborder Sauria (lizards, skinks, geckos and monitors)
o Suborder Amphisbaenia (worm lizards)
o Suborder Ophidia (Serpentes) (snakes)
Subclass Archosauria
• Order Crocodilia (alligators, gharials, caimans and crocodiles)
Note Lepidosauria and Crocodilia are sometimes considered “infra classes; which is a sub division of sub class.
Amphibians belong to the Class “Amphibia”
The class “Amphibia” is divided into three sub classes:
• Lepospondyli (all representatives are extinct)
• Labyrinthodontia (all representatives are extinct)
• Lissamphibia (all living amphibians belong to this group
The subclass “Lepospondyli” were slender bodied, aquatic animals. They evolved from fish and many retained physical characteristics similar to fish
The subclass “Labyrinthodontia” includes most of the species of amphibians that ever lived. They have all been extinct for more than 150 million years. They included both aquatic and terrestrial animals, of varying sizes, some as large as alligators. They are distinguished by a complicated teeth structure, and varied structure of vertebrae.
The sub class “Lissamphibia” encompases three orders of animals:
• Order Anura (Frogs and Toads)
• Order Apoda (Caecilians)
• Order Urodela (Salamanders and Newts)
