• Herptile

    Pronunciation

    • RP IPA: /ˈhɜːp.taɪl/
    • GenAm IPA: /ˈhɝp.taɪl/

    Origin

    From herpetology (and similar words), by blending with reptile.

    Full definition of herptile

    Noun

    herptile

    (plural herptiles)
    1. (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.

    Related terms

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