| A |
| aestivate |
The behavior of laying dormant in the Summer to
avoid heat or drought |
| albinism |
A genetic condition that manifests as a lack of
pigment |
| allochthonus |
Not native |
| amelanistic |
Lacking in dark pigment |
| amphibian |
Member of the class amphibia. Amphibians are
characterized by having two distictive life stages. An aquatic
larval stage as a tadpole, and an adult, often terrestial, stage.
Amphibians also have porous un-scaled skin. |
| anerythristic |
Lacking in red pigment |
| antivenin |
The medicinal treatment for envenomation |
| anuran |
A frog or toad. Sometimes also called "anurid". |
| aquatic |
Describes the lifestyle of living in and around
water. |
| arborial |
Describes animals that climb and live in trees |
| autecology |
The study of the ecology of a particular species |
| |
|
| B |
| barbel |
A small fleshy protuberance on the chin and/or
throat of some turtles |
| basking |
Laying in the direct rays of the sun for
thermoregulatory or theraputic reasons |
| binomial |
A scientific name consisting of two parts, a genus
and a species |
| biota |
The living organisms in a given area |
| |
|
| C |
| carapace |
The dorsal portion of a turtle shell |
| carnivorous |
Meat eating |
| carrying-capacity |
The total amount of biomass a particular habitat
can support. When the carrying capacity is exceeded, the habitat
stabilizes through atrition.(see habitat) |
| chelonian |
A turtle or tortoise |
| cloaca |
The common cavity and orofice where digestive,
urinary and reproductive products are passed. |
| colubrid |
Snakes belonging to the taxonomic family Colubridae. |
| crepuscular |
Describes the behavior of being active during
twighlight hours(dusk or dawn) |
| crocodilian |
A corcodile, alligator, caiman, or gahrial. |
| crotalin |
Snakes belonging to the taxonomic family Viperidae,
but of the sub-family Crotalinae. These are the pit-vipers. |
| cryptic |
Describes the behavior of remaining hidden |
| cytotoxin |
A chemical toxin that acts directly on the body
tissue. It is the most physically destructive component of snake
venom. |
| |
|
| D |
| deciduous |
Falling off or shedding at a particular stage of
growth |
| detritus |
The organic result of the decay of plants |
| dewlap |
The fleshy, sometimes extensible, throat fans on
some lizards |
| diurnal |
Describes the behavior of being active during the
day. |
| DOR/DOA |
Acronym for Dead On Road/Dead on Arrival. Used when
accounting a find while field herping(usually by road cruising). |
| |
|
| E |
| ectothermic |
Refers to animals that must actively regulate their
own body temperature (see thermoregulation).
Also known as "cold-blooded". |
| egg tooth |
A deciduous small and sharp protuberance on the
front of the mouth that is used to cut through the egg shell by a
hatchling reptile. |
| elapid |
Snakes belonging to the taxonomic family Elapidae.
All members are venomous and some are amongst the most deadly on
earth. |
| endemic |
The exclusive occurence of an organism in a
particular region |
| envenomation |
The result of a bite or sting from a venomous
animal where venom is injected
into the body. |
| erythristic |
having a dominance of red pigment |
| evolution |
The scientific theory that organisms change into
new organisms as a result of cumulative adaptation |
| extinct |
Having completely died out of existence. |
| extirpated |
Having been completely eliminated from a particular
geographical range |
| |
|
| F |
| fecundity |
The average number of delivered offspring |
| flipping |
The act of looking for herps under objects by
turning them over. |
| fossil |
The petrified remains of an organism |
| fossorial |
Describes animals that burrow |
| |
|
| G |
| |
|
| |
|
| H |
| habitat |
The place where an animal lives. Habitat provides
food, water, shelter and space.(see carrying
capacity) |
| hemotoxin |
A chemical toxin that affects the blood. Hemotoxins
can either cause or inhibit coagulation. |
| herp |
Short for herpetofauna, derived from Greek, it
refers to reptiles and amphibians. |
| |
|
| I |
| |
|
| |
|
| J |
| |
|
| |
|
| K |
| |
|
| |
|
| L |
| leucism |
A genetetic aberration where the animal is
devoid of pattern and of color, often making it appear to be snow
white. |
| |
|
| M |
| marine |
Describes the lifestyle of living in the ocean. |
| myotoxin |
A chemical toxin that destroys muscle tissue |
| |
|
| N |
| neurotoxin |
A chemical toxin that affects the nervous system.
Neurotoxins from snakes usually act on the central nervous system
and can shut down the cardio-vascular sysytem. |
| nocturnal |
Describes the behavior of being active at night |
| |
|
| O |
| ophidian |
A snake. From the greek ophis |
| opisthoglyphic |
Refers to the fang mechanism of rear-fanged colubrids. |
| osmoreguation |
Behavior that has the purpose of keeping moisture
in the body balanced |
| oviparous |
Refers to the reproductive method of egg laying.
Eggs are deposited in a nest and have a thick hard or leathery
shell. |
| ovoviviparous |
Refers to the reproductive method of egg-bearing.
Eggs are retained in the body until hatching so as to appear to
give live birth (see viviparous).
An ovoviviparous animal's umbellical cord is connected to a yolk
as opposed to getting nutrition directly from the mother. |
| |
|
| P |
| parthenogenic |
Refers to higher animals that reproduce asexually;
that is, they are all female and automatically produce fertile
eggs when mature without coupling with a male. |
| petrification |
The process by which organic material is
substituted with rock, thereby making a stone copy of the
original. |
| pit |
In Crotalins,
a recess in the face between the eye and nostril that contains a
heat-sensing organ. |
| pit-viper |
refers to Crotalins.
Vipers that have pits. |
| plastron |
The underside or bottom portion of a turtle shell |
| predatory |
Describes the behavior of killing and eating other
animals |
| prehensile |
Acharacteristic of an appendage where the appendage
curls so as to facilitate grasping |
| proteroglyphous |
Describes the fang mechanism of venomous snakes
that have relatively short fangs fixed at the front of the
maxillae. This is characteristic of elapids. |
| |
|
| Q |
| |
|
| |
|
| R |
| reptile |
Members of the class reptilia. Reptiles are
characterized by thick skin that has scutes or scales. Reptiles
tend to be terrestrialy based, and do not require water for their
normal life cycle. |
| road
cruising |
A method of field herping that involves driving a
vehicle along roads, hoping to come across reptiles or amphibians |
| |
|
| |
|
| S |
| saurian |
A lizard. |
| solenoglyphous |
Describes the complex fang mechanism where the
fangs are relatively long, moveable (they fold against the roof
of the mouth) and are ususally the only teeth on the maxillae.
This mechanism is characteristic or viperids. |
| sympatric |
Describes species that live in the same
geographical location |
| |
|
| T |
| torpor |
The dormant, inactive state of a hibernating or
aestivating animal |
| thermoregulation |
Behavior that maintains the body temperature within
acceptable ranges. (see ectothermic) |
| |
|
| U |
| |
|
| |
|
| V |
| venom |
A chemical agent produced by some animals that is
meant to be injected into the body of another animal and that
usually has a destructive effect. |
| venomous |
Describes a plant or animal that produces a venom. |
| ventrals |
The broad scales on the underside of a snake that
run rom the throatr to the cloaca. |
| verdant |
Green with vegetation. |
| viperid |
A snake belonging to the taxonomic family
Viperidae. Viperids are all venomous and have characteristic
folding fangs. This family also contains the crotalins. |
| viviparous |
refers to the reproductive method of directly
bearing young giving birth to young as opposed to eggs.(see oviparous and ovoviviparous) |
| |
|
| W |
| |
|
| |
|
| X |
| xanthism |
Genetic aberrant coloration where yellow or red
predominates. |
| xeric |
Describes a dry habitat. |
| |
|
| Y |
| |
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| |
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| Z |
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