Reptile Glossary
Amphibian - Cold-blooded vertebrates that live in water and on land, including frogs and toads, salamanders and newts and caecilians.
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Anthropod - A group of limbed and jointed animals that have external skeletons, including insects, arachnids and crustaceans.
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Aquatic - Animals living in water.
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Arachnid - A category of anthropods that includes spiders, scorpions, tarantulas, ticks and mites.
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Arboreal - Animals living in woodland areas with trees.
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Caecilian - A type of amphibian that is blind, legless and shaped like a worm.
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Carnivore - Animals that eat meat or protein for their diets.
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Chelonian - A category of reptiles that includes turtles, tortoises and terrapins.
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Crepuscular - Animals that become active at dusk, dawn or twilight.
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Crocodilians - A category of reptiles that includes alligators, crocodiles, gavials and caiman.
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Diurnal - Animals that are active during the day.
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Ectothermic - Animals that cannot regulate body temperature internally, but have to regulate temperature through their environment, such as seeking shade, burrowing or hibernating.
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Fossilian - Animals that need land or sand for burrowing.
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Herpetology - The scientific study of reptiles and amphibians.
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Herptile - The combined classification of reptiles and amphibians.
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Herbivore - Animals that eat plants for their diets.
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Insectivore - Animals that eat insects for their diets.
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Invertebrate - Animals that have no spinal column or backbones.
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Nocturnal - Animals that are active during the night.
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Omnivore - Animals that eat protein (meat) and plants for their diet.
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Riparian - Animals living on both land and water. Also known as semi-aquatic.
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Scansorial - Animals living in rocky terrains.
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Semi-aquatic - Animals living on both land and water. Also known as riparian.
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Terrestrial - Animals living on land.
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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.
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Vertebrate - Animals that have a backbone.