WorldAugust 29, 2026

herpetology

hur-puh-TOL-uh-jee

Definition

The branch of zoology that focuses specifically on the study of reptiles and amphibians.

Etymology

The word comes from the Greek 'herpeton', meaning 'creeping thing' or 'reptile', combined with the suffix '-logy', meaning 'study of'. It was adopted into English in the early 19th century.

In the news

The word is used to describe the department at the Bronx Zoo that oversees the care, rehabilitation, and curation of the seized and rescued box turtles.

After an Airport Bust, Some Rescued Reptiles Found a Haven in the Bronx

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The New York Times

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