Acrodont:

With teeth fused to the summit of the jawbones.

Aestivate (estivate):

To become dormant during the summer or dry season.

Agar:

A gelling agent extracted from seaweed and used when raising fruit flies.

Aglyphous:

The absence of teeth modified for venom injection.

Albumen:

The white protein part of an egg.

Ambient:

Surrounding on all sides. e.g.)ambient temperature.

Anal gland:

A paired gland at the base of the tail in many snakes. It secretes a bad-smelling fluid (musk) when the snake is attacked.

Anaphylatic shock:

A conditioning resulting from sensitization to protein.

Anapsid:

An absence of temporal openings in the skull roof.

Anterior:

Front or front portion.

Antibothropic:

Antivenom effective against venom typical of the neo-tropical pit vipers (other than rattlesnakes).

Antisera:

A serum containing antibodies. An antitoxin.

Antivenom (antivenin):

An antitoxin to a venom.

Aposematic:

Marked with bright or contrasting colors as a warning that the animal is venomous or noxious.

Arboreal:

Living in, or spending large amounts of time in, trees.

Arcade:

Parts of the skull roof that separate the orbits and the temporal openings.

Aspirate:

To inhale fluid into the lungs.

Aquatic:

Living in water.

Autotomy:

The shedding of part of the body in defence. e.g.)when a lizard sheds its tail.

Basking light:

A light use to warm one part of an animals enclosure to a higher heat than the rest.

Bifurcated:

Forked. e.g.)A snake's tongue.

Binomial:

A name consisting of two parts. e.g.)a genus name and a species name (Binomial nomenclature).

Brill:

The fixed transparent scale covering the eye in snakes and some lizards.

Broad spectrum lighting:

Lighting that simulates natural sunlight as closely as possible.

Brumation:

Torpor induced by cold temperatures.

Buccal:

Tissues of the mouth. e.g.)gums.

Carnivore (carnivorous):

Eats only other animals.

Carpals:

The bones of the wrist in tetrapods.

Cerebellum:

The paired lobe of the hind brain.

Cerebrum:

The lobes of the forebrain.

Cervical vertebrae:

The bones of the neck.

Chelonian:

Turtles and tortoises.

Chronic:

Long-lasting.

Classification:

The ordering of living things into groups.

Cleidoic:

An egg with an impervious shell.

Cloaca (cloacal):

A chamber in most vertebrates (except mammals) into which the intestinal, reproductive, and urinary systems empty.

Condyle:

The rounded part of a bone that fits into the socket of another bone to form a joint.

Constriction:

A method of killing prey used by some snakes which involves wrapping the prey in the coils of their body and squeezing.

Convergence (convergent or parallel evolution):

A similarity in unrelated species due to their evolving in similar habitats.

Cranium:

The bony part of the skull containing the brain.

Crepuscular:

Active during twilight.

Crest:

A ridge of spikes or skin along the neck, back, or tail.

Cryptic coloration:

Colors and patterns which obscure, making an animal difficult to see.

Cutaneous:

Having to do with the skin.

Debride:

To remove injured or dead tissue.

Dermis:

The inner layer of skin.

Dehydration:

The reduction of water in the body.

Dewlap:

The fold of skin on the throat of some lizards. May be flared for display purposes.

Diapsid:

A skull that has two temporal openings.

Dichromatism (sexual):

A difference in coloration between the males and females of the same species.

Dimorphic:

Morphological differences between members of the same species. e.g.)color phases.

Display:

Ritualized behavior used for territorial, sexual, or protective purposes.

Disruptive coloration:

Colors and patterns which disrupt body shape and outline. Camouflage.

Diurnal:

Active during the day.

Dorsal:

The back or upper surface of the body.

Dorsolateral:

The upper sides.

Dorsoventral:

The lower sides.

Dysecdysis:

Difficulty in shedding of the skin.

Dystocia:

Difficult labour or birth.

Ecdysis:

The shedding of the outer layer of skin.

Ecosystem:

The complete environment an animal lives in.

Ectoparasite:

An external parasite. e.g.)mites.

Ectothermic (ectotherm, poikilothermic, cold-blooded):

Animals that can't maintain an internal temperature independent of external temperature.

Endemic:

Indigenous to a certain area.

Endoparasite:

An internal parasite. e.g.)worms.

Epidermis:

The outer layer of skin.

Estivation:

Torpor induced by extended periods of drought or heat.

Eversion:

Turning inside-out.

Fang:

A tooth specialized for the purpose of injecting poison into prey.

Femoral pores:

Hollow scales on the underside of the thighs in many lizards.

Fossorial:

Adapted for burrowing or digging.

Fuzzy:

A rodent with fur, but unopened eyes.

Gestation:

The period of time that the young develop inside the body of the female before birth.

Gravid:

Pregnant with eggs or young.

Hatchling:

A recently hatched animal to a couple of months old.

Hemipenes:

The paired sex organs of male snakes and lizards.

Herbivore:

Eats only plants.

Herp:

A reptile or amphibian.

Herpetoculture:

Refers to keeping and breeding herps.

Herpetology:

The study of reptiles and amphibians.

Herptile:

Used to collectively describe an amphibian or reptile.

Herptiliary:

Outside enclosure for keeping reptiles and amphibians in near natural conditions.

Heterodont:

Having several kinds of teeth. i.e.)cutting, tearing, grinding.

Hibernation:

The act of spending the cold winter months in a state of torpor.

Hibernaculum:

A place in which to hibernate.

Homodont:

Having teeth of a single type.

Hopper:

A weanling rodent.

Husbandry:

The care and management of captive animals.

Hyaluronidase:

An enzyme in reptile venom that dissolves the gel present around cells, increasing the rate of absorption.

Hybrid:

Young produced in a mating of two different species.

Hypapophyses:

Spine-like projections of the vertebra.

Hypervitaminosis:

Nutritional disorder caused by too much of a certain vitamin.

Hypovitaminosis:

Nutritional disorder caused by too little of a certain vitamin.

Imbricate scales:

Overlapping scales.

Insectivore:

Eats only insects.

Interstitial skin:

The skin between the scales.

Intergrade:

An animal which shows the mixed characteristics of two subspecies at the border of both their ranges.

Jacobson's Organ:

A pair of organs at the back of the mouth used to smell the contents of the mouth. Used in conjunction with the forked tongue.

Keeled scales:

Ridged scales.

Labial:

The area of the lips.

Lateral:

The side.

Lethargic:

Drowsy, inactive.

Mandible:

The lower jaw.

Maxilla:

The upper jaw.

Morphology:

The study of form. i.e.) development, appearance, and anatomy of animals.

Nares:

Nostrils.

Necrotic tissue:

Dead tissue.

Neonate:

Newborn.

Neo-tropical:

Tropical areas of the New World.

Neurotoxin:

A toxin that affects the nervous system.

New World:

North, Central, and South America.

Nictitating membrane (third eyelid):

A thin membrane that can be drawn across the eye.

Nocturnal:

Active at night.

Nomenclature:

A system of names used in a specific branch of knowledge.

Nominate race:

The first defined of a species upon which subspecies are based.

Ocelli (ocellus):

Eye-like markings.

Old World:

The eastern hemisphere.

Ophidian:

A snake.

Ophiophagous:

Snake-eating.

Opistoglyphous (rear-fanged):

Having grooved venom-conducting teeth at the rear of the jaw.

Orbit:

The cavity in the skull containing the eye.

Oviduct:

The canal which caries the ova to the exterior via the cloaca.

Oviposition:

The act of laying eggs in specific sites.

Oviparous:

Egg-laying.

Ovo-viviparous:

The retention of the eggs in the body until hatching.

Palate:

The roof of the mouth.

Parietal eye:

A vestigial 'third eye' in the center of the skull, sensitive to light and dark.

Parthenogenic:

Reproduction without males.

Pelagic:

Sea dwelling. e.g.) sea snakes.

Photo-period:

Hours of light and dark to which an animal is exposed.

Pinky:

A newborn rodent.

Pipping:

The breaking open of an egg shell by the emerging hatchling.

Piscivorous:

Fish-eating.

Polyphyodont:

Having teeth that are replaced more than once.

Posterior:

The rear end of the body.

Postocular:

Behind the eye.

Prehensile:

Adapted for grasping.

Procryptic:

Camouflaging colors or patterns.

Proteroglyphous:

Having fixed venom conducting teeth at the front of the mouth.

Rectilinear crawling:

The way a snake moves forward by a system of waves produced by movements of the muscles, ribs, and belly scales.

Reticulated:

A pattern of color resembling a net.

Rhomb:

Diamond shaped.

Rostral shield:

The scale at the tip of the snout.

Rugose:

Wrinkled.

Saxicolous:

Rock and crevice dwelling.

Semi-aquatic:

Lives both on land and in the water.

Solenoglyphous:

Having hinged venom conducting teeth at the front of the jaw.

Spur:

Vestigial remnant of the hind limb present in some snakes.

Stress:

A psychological condition in animals which reduces resistance to disease.

Subcutaneous:

Beneath the skin.

Subdermal:

Underneath the skin.

Sublingual:

Underneath the tongue.

Subocular:

Below the eye.

Substrate:

The surface on which an organism lives. e.g.)soil, sand, wood chips, paper.

Supralabial:

The scales on the upper lip.

Supraocular:

Scales above the eye.

Supraorbital:

Above the eye.

Taxonomy:

The science of classifying animals and plants according to their natural relationships.

Temperature gradient:

A temperature range that allows a reptile to regulate it's temperature.

Temporal:

The part of the skull behind the orbits.

Terrestrial:

Ground dwelling.

Thecodont:

Having teeth inserted in sockets.

Thermoreceptor:

An organ receptive to changes in heat. e.g.)the pits of pit vipers.

Thermoregulation:

In ectotherms, the action of regulating body temperature by moving between warm and cool areas.

Torpor:

Lethargy, inactivity.

Triads:

The grouping of color bands on some snakes.

Trinomial:

A three part name. e.g.)genus, species, and subspecies.

Tubercles:

A small knoblike prominence.

Tympanum:

The ear drum.

Urates:

Non-fecal part of excreta.

Uric acid:

The white crystalline acid that nitrogenous waste is converted to by animals living in dry areas.

Vectors:

Organisms capable of transmitting parasites.

Vent:

The orifice of the cloaca. The anus.

Venter:

Refers to the underside of the body.

Ventral:

The underside of the body.

Vestigial:

A degenerate part or organ more highly developed in previous generations.

Viviparous:

Live bearing.

Zoonoses:

Diseases which can be transfered from animals to people.

Return to Reptiles and Amphibians.