Introduction to
Herpetoculture
Herpetoculture
Pensacola Jr College
Definitions
w Herpetoculture = herpeton
(“crawling things,” amphibians & reptiles) + culture (identification, care,
maintenance, display, reproduction)
w Herpetology = herpeton (cold
blooded terrestrial vertebrates) + ology (study of)
w TWO groups of organisms,
other courses study only one
Areas of Study
w Anatomy
w Physiology
w Behavior
w Reproduction
w Origins
w Evolution
w Taxonomy
w Distribution
w Life Histories
w Ecology
w Conservation
Classification
w Phylum Chordata
w Subphylum Vertebrata
w Superclass Agnatha
w Superclass Gnathostomata
w Superclass Tetrapoda
w Class Amphibia
w Class Reptilia
Phylum Chordata
w Notochord
w Dorsal hollow nerve cord
w gill slits
Subphylum
Vertebrata
w Brain
w Cranium
w Vertebrae
w Sense organs in head
Superclass Agnatha
w No jaws
w Cartilaginous skeleton
w No ventral fins
w Notochord
w The “jawless fish” =
lampreys and hagfish
Superclass
Gnathostomata
w Jaws
w Paired ventral fins
w Notochord or vertebrae
w Cartilaginous or bony
skeleton
w Includes:
• Class Chondrichthyes
• Class Osteichthyes
Class
Chondrichthyes
w Cartilaginous skeleton
w No operculum
w No swim bladder
w “Cartilaginous fish” =
sharks, skates, and rays
Class Osteichthyes
w Bony skeleton
w Single gill opening on each
side covered by bony operculum
w Swim bladder present
w “Bony fish” = all other fish
Superclass
Tetrapoda
w Typically limbs ending in 5 digits
w Terrestrial adaptations:
• cornified skin
• lungs
• ossified/fused skeleton
& cranium
• Sternum
w Herps, birds, & mammals
Herps vs. other
tetrapods
w No hair or feathers
w Have sinus venosus in heart
w 3 chambered heart
w 5 pairs of pharyngeal
pouches in embryo
w Depend on external sources
for temperature regulation
Approximate
Species #:
w Fishlike vertebrates =
17,000
w Amphibians = 2400 species
w Reptiles = 6,000 species
w Birds = 8600 species
w Mammals = 3500 species
Class Amphibia
w More fish-like than other
terrestrial vertebrates
w Go through fish-like stage
and metamorphosis to adult
w Moist thin skin
Amphibian Species
#
w Caecilians = 158 species
w Salamanders = 303 species
w Frogs & toads = 1900
species
Class Reptilia
w More adapted to life on land
than amphibians
w Shell and membranes protect
egg from drying out
w Dry, thick, horny skin,
generally with scales
Reptile Species #:
w Turtles = 320 species
w Tuatara = 1 species
w Lizards = 3140 species
w Snakes = 2700 species
w Alligators and crocodiles =
21 species
Classification within
Amphibia and Reptilia
w Orders (all end in -a)
w Families (all end in -idae)
w Subfamilies (all end in -inae)
w Genera
w Species
Species
w A group of animals which can
breed with each other and produce fertile offspring
w
Species: Rana pipiens and Crotalus
viridus
w
Subspecies:
Crotalus viridus viridus
w Abbreviations in writing
Herps in Society
w Why don’t people know about
these animals?
w What value do they have in
human society?