Reptile Glossary

Amphibian - Cold-blooded vertebrates that live in water and on land, including frogs and toads, salamanders and newts and caecilians.

Anthropod - A group of limbed and jointed animals that have external skeletons, including insects, arachnids and crustaceans.

Aquatic - Animals living in water.

Arachnid - A category of anthropods that includes spiders, scorpions, tarantulas, ticks and mites.

Arboreal - Animals living in woodland areas with trees.

Caecilian - A type of amphibian that is blind, legless and shaped like a worm.

Carnivore - Animals that eat meat or protein for their diets.

Chelonian - A category of reptiles that includes turtles, tortoises and terrapins.

Crepuscular - Animals that become active at dusk, dawn or twilight.

Crocodilians - A category of reptiles that includes alligators, crocodiles, gavials and caiman.

Diurnal - Animals that are active during the day.

Ectothermic - Animals that cannot regulate body temperature internally, but have to regulate temperature through their environment, such as seeking shade, burrowing or hibernating.

Fossilian - Animals that need land or sand for burrowing.

Herpetology - The scientific study of reptiles and amphibians.

Herptile - The combined classification of reptiles and amphibians.

Herbivore - Animals that eat plants for their diets.

Insectivore - Animals that eat insects for their diets.

Invertebrate - Animals that have no spinal column or backbones.

Nocturnal - Animals that are active during the night.

Omnivore - Animals that eat protein (meat) and plants for their diet.

Riparian - Animals living on both land and water. Also known as semi-aquatic.

Scansorial - Animals living in rocky terrains.

Semi-aquatic - Animals living on both land and water. Also known as riparian.

Terrestrial - Animals living on land.

Urodele - An amphibian category that contains newts and salamanders. These animals have long tails and small legs and are usually found in or near water.

Vertebrate - Animals that have a backbone.