Reptile Glossary of Terms

Aestivation - the act of passing the summer or dry season in a dormant state.

ambient temperature - The overall temperature of the environment.

albino - A lack of pigment in the skin. (Pinkness comes from the blood color)

anterior - Pertains to the front or head end.

anterioventral - Pertains to the front of the lower surface.

anus - An opening at the base of the tale. (see cloaca)

aquatic - Lives in the water.

arboreal - Lives or spends most of its time in trees or bushes.

autonomy - The voluntary shedding of the body parts of animals, usually used as a defense mechanism. Autonomy of the tail is common in many lizards.

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carapace - A bony or hard shell that covers part or all of an animal. Turtles, crabs, and boxfish are good examples.

carnivore - Animals who hunt and eat other animals; meat eater.

chelonians - Pertaining to turtles, terrapins, and tortoises.

CITES - The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This body regulates trade in wildlife.

cloaca - A chamber that open through the anus that is used for both excretion and reproduction.

crepuscular - Becomes active at dusk, dawn, and twilight.

cryptic coloration - Patterning or color to camouflage or conceal.

dewlap - The flap of skin on the throat of some lizards; like iguanas and anoles.

dichromatism - Color differences between individuals of the same species.

dimorphism - Any of the various differences between individuals of the same species; like color and size. Often sex-related differences.

diurnal - Active during the day.

dorsal - Pertains to the back or upper surface.

dorsolateral - Pertains to the upper sides.

dorsolateral ridge/fold - A glandular ridge on the upper sides of certain frogs.

dorsum - The upper surface.

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ecology - Scientific study of the interations of organisms and their environment.

ectothermic - An animal that cannot regulate its own body temperature, rather it's regulated by the environment, so they often bask for heat, burrow, and hibernate.

endemic - Indigenous to a specific region or area.

Endoskeleton - the internal structure or skeleton of an invertebrate.

estivation - Similar to hibernation, some herpetile will bury themselves and remain dormant when the climate is too dry and/or hot for comfort. It is also spelled aestivation.

fossorial - It burrows or digs.

genus - A grouping by kind or class. Several united species makes a genus.

gravid - A female bearing eggs or embryos, pregnant

hemipenis - The copulatory organ of a male snake or lizard.

herpetology - Scientific Study of reptiles and amphibians.

herpetile - Reptiles and amphibians together.

herbivore - Plant eater, vegitarian.

hibernate - To pass a cold season in sleep or seclusion.

Humidity - the moisture content of air.

hybrid - A crossbred animal. The offspring of two different species.

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Insectivorous - a creature which feeds mainly on invertebrates.

intergrade - Animals that seem to blend characteristics of subspecies.

Invertebrate - a creature without a backbone.

Jacobson's organ - An organ for detecting odor located in the roof of the mouth. The tongue delivers the odor. The nostrils connect to the lung or lungs.

keel - A ridge on a scale.

lateral - Pertaining to the side.

larva - the early form or first stage of an insect during its development.

melanism - Blackness, the opposite of albinism.

metamorphosis - The change from a larval state to an adult state.

middorsal - Pertaining to the middle of the back.

midventral - Pertaining to the middle of the belly..

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neotenic - Reaching sexual maturity while still in larval form; some salamanders.

neurotoxin - A poison that affects the nervous system.

nocturnal - Active at night.

omnivore - Animals who eat both meat and vegetables.

oviparous - An animal who lays eggs, and then later the eggs hatch.

ovoviviparous - An animal who holds the eggs inside its body until they hatch and living young are delivered. However, the embryo is sustained by the contents of the egg and not by any connection to the animal that holds it.

plastron - The lower shell of a turtle.

poikilothermal - Term used for variable temperature cold-blooded animals.

posterior - Pertaining to the rear.

posterioventral - Pertaining to the rear portion of the lower surface.

prehensile tail - Capable of grasping or wrapping with the tail.

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race - Subspecies.

semi-aquatic - Able to live on both land and water; some turtles and frogs.

Spawn - the eggs of amphibians.

species - One or more animals which closely resemble one another. A group of them together forms a genus.

Tadpoles - the larval form of an amphibian's life cycle.

taxonomy - The science of classifying plants and animals.

terrapin - Fresh-water tortoise.

terrarium - The cage or container for keeping reptiles and amphibians.

terrestrial - Lives on the land.

Territorial - a pattern of behavior used to defend a specific area.

toxin - A poisonous substance.

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venom - A toxin produced by an animal.

Venomous - a creature which produces poison.

vent - Anus, the opening from the cloaca to the outside.

ventral - Pertaining to the underside, the lower surface.

vivarium - An enclosure or container for keeping reptiles and amphibians.

viviparous - Live-bearing animal whose young are sustained by some connection to its mother.

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