Herpetology

"These foul and loathsome animals are abhorrent because of their cold body, pale color, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom; and so their Creator has not exerted his powers to make more of them."
- Carolus Linnaeus (1758)

Herpetology is the study of amphibians and reptiles. The two groups are included under a single discipline because historically, they were considered "lower forms" and not worthy of detailed investigation. With further study came the realization that, although they share generalized morphological and physiological similarities, there are important differences between the class Amphibia and the class Reptilia. Chief among these is the relationship to moisture. Amphibians are constrained to wet or moist environments because their skin and egg membranes are permeable to water. Reptiles, on the other hand, are less dependent on water because they have a scaly waterproof skin and their eggs are protected by a thick shell.

Amphibians and reptiles account for almost half of extant tetrapod species. Within this group exists an incredible diversity of ecology, behavior, morphology and physiology. Currently recognized are over 4,500 extant species of amphibians divided into 41 families in 3 orders, and over 6,500 extant species of reptiles; 50 families in 4 orders.

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List of Illinois Amphibians

List of Illinois Reptiles

Illinois Endangered and Threatened Amphibians and Reptiles - Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board

Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois

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INHS amphibian and reptile-related research and projects are listed in our Annual Reports.

See our Publications Catalog for amphibian and reptile -related material published at INHS.

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Some past articles published in INHS Reports:

Turtle Research at the INHS Great Rivers Field Station. Winter 2002

Species Spotlight: Mole Salamander. Winter 2002

The Eastern Massasauga at Carlyle Lake. May-June 2000

Snakes in the Grass, Snakes in the Trees. January-February 2000

INHS Amphibian and Reptile Collection. March-April 1999

Mapping the Diversity of Amphibians and Reptiles in Illinois. September-October 1998

Anuran Call Surveys. March-April 1999

Species Spotlight: Box Turtles. November-December 1996

Species Spotlight: Green Tree Frog. March-April 1995

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INHS Amphibian and Reptile Collection Page

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18 June 2002 cam