Herpetology, << `hur` puh TOL uh jee, >> is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians. The name herpetology comes from the Greek word herpeton, meaning crawling thing. Herpetologists study such animals as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, frogs, and salamanders. Herpetologists have made important contributions to many areas of biology, including ecology, evolution, and animal behavior. See also Amphibian ; Reptile .
