herptile
English edit
Etymology edit
From herpetology (and similar words), by blending with reptile.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhɜːp.taɪl/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhɝp.taɪl/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun edit
herptile (plural herptiles)
- (zoology, chiefly ecology) A reptile or amphibian.
- 1980, L. D. Harris, G. B. Bowman, “Vertebrate predator subsystem, chapter 6”, in Alicja I. Breymeyer, George M. Van Dyne, editors, Grasslands, systems analysis, and man[1], Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 592:
- Of all the vertebrates, the herptiles (reptiles and amphibians), mammals and birds predominate in terrestrial grassland ecosystems.
- 1996, Robert H. Kadlec, Robert Lee Knight, Treatment Wetlands: Theory and Implementation[2], CRC Press, →ISBN, 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, Michael J. Wisdom, “Habitat Networks for Terrestrial Wildlife: Concepts and Case Studies, chapter 19”, in Joshua J. Millspaugh, Frank R. Thompson, III, editors, Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes[3], Academic Press, →ISBN, page 516:
- Forty vertebrates [=forty vertebrate species] of concern, including 13 mammals, 17 birds, and 10 herptiles, were selected for analysis (Table 19-3).
Usage notes edit
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.