Herptile
Pronunciation
- RP IPA: /ˈhÉœËp.taɪl/
- GenAm IPA: /ˈhÉp.taɪl/
Origin
From herpetology (and similar words), by blending with reptile.
Full definition of herptile
Noun
herptile
(plural herptiles)- (biology, 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 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.