Why Are They Called Herpetologist?

The word herpetologist comes from the Greek root herpeton meaning "creeping animal." When a herpetologist goes out searching for reptiles and amphibians, he is herping, or peeking under rocks and in the mud, hoping to find a slithery creature lingering there. ... These reptiles and amphibians are a herpetologist's forte.

What does the word herpetologist mean?

: a branch of zoology dealing with reptiles and amphibians.

Are reptiles called herps?

Amphibians and reptiles are together called herpetofauna, or “herps” for short. All herps are “cold-blooded,” which means they lack an internal thermostat. Instead they must regulate body heat through their interactions with the environment.

Alexander Ross

Alexander Ross

Gaming, Esports & Interactive Media Writer

Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.