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.