English

Noun

herptile ‎(plural herptiles)

1. (zoology, chiefly ecology) A reptile or amphibian.
   • 1980, L. D. Harris and G. B. Bowman, "Vertebrate predator subsystem", chapter 6 of Alicja I. Breymeyer and George M. Van Dyne (editors), Grasslands, systems analysis, and man, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9780521218726, page 592:

     Of all the vertebrates, the herptiles (reptiles and amphibians), mammals and birds predominate in terrestrial grassland ecosystems.

   • 1996, Robert H. Kadlec and Robert Lee Knight, Treatment Wetlands: Theory and Implementation, CRC Press, ISBN 978-0-87371-930-8, page 169:

     Because of the higher primary and secondary productivity in treatment wetlands compared to natural wetlands, herptile populations and all other higher consumer groups are frequently abundant.

   • 2008, Mary M. Rowland and Michael J. Wisdom, "Habitat Networks for Terrestrial Wildlife: Concepts and Case Studies", chapter 19 of Joshua J. Millspaugh and Frank R. Thompson, III (editors), Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes, Academic Press, ISBN 978-0-12-373631-4, page 516:

     Forty vertebrates [=forty vertebrate species] of concern, including 13 mammals, 17 birds, and 10 herptiles, were selected for analysis (Table 19-3).

Usage notes

This term is used to encompass both reptiles and amphibians, especially in situations where a member of either group of animals is meant without excluding the other.

Related terms

• herpetology
• herp

Translations