Glossary of words commonly associated with herpetology.
A	aboreal	living in trees or above the ground.
	aestivate	a state of dormancy or torpor.
	anterior	towards the front of the body.
	allopatric	to live in different areas, to be geographically separated.
B
C	cloaca	the reproductive chamber also used for the exit of body wastes.
	caudal	relating to the tail.
	crepuscular	active on dusk or between day and night
	cryptic	undercover, hidden, secretive or inconspicuous.
	cryptozoic	To live or hide in dark, small or tight places.
D	diurnal	active during day light
	dorsal	relating to the back
	dorsolateral	the area between the back and the sides
E	ectotherms	Organisms unable to generate body heat internally.
	endemic	exclusive or native to a particular area
	endotherms	Organisms able to generate body heat internally without relying on external heating.
F	fossorial	to live underground
	frontal	large scales found on the top of the head
G	gravid	pregnant
	gular	relating to the throat area
H	herpetology	the study of reptiles
	hemipenis	one of a pair of male sexual organs
	heterogeneous	the reference to scales that are different in size and shape
	homogeneous	referring to scales that are similar in shape and size
	hybrid	the offspring of individuals of  two different species
	hypermelaistic	Too much melanin
	hypomelanin	Reduce melanin
I	infralabials	the scales on the lower lip
	intergrades	the offspring of two individuals  from different populations or subspecies of the same species
	internasals	scales found between or at the end of the snout
J
K
L	labial scales	scales bordering the mouth, the scales on the lips
	lamellae	the pad like scales under a gecko toes
	leucistic	Lacking all colour except white
	loreal	scales found between the preoculars and nasal scales and above the supralabials
M	medial	meaning, to the middle or towards the midline
	melanin	A pigment made by special cells found in the skin of reptiles
	mental	triangular scale found at the front of the lower jaw
	monotypic	having one known species
	morph	a distinct colouration difference within a population
N	nasal	meaning the nostril area
	nuchal	the area of the nape or lateral area of neck
O	ocellate	round or ring like shapes or spots, like an eye
	oviparous	egg laying
	ovoviviparous	live bearing
	ovulation	the release of egg follicles from the ovary of a female
P	parthenogenetic	reproduction without fertilization with a male, the ability to clone oneself
	parietals	scales found on the top of the head on the posterior side of the frontal scales
	pectoral	an area of the chest
	plastron	underneath section of a  turtle shell
	prefrontals	the scales on the top of the snout, next to the canthus rostralis and the internasals
	prehensile	the muscle control or the ability to grip with the tail
	preoculars	the front scales bordering the eye and found between the eye and nostril
Q
R	rostral	the scale found at the front top lip between the nasal scales
	rugose	Ridged or wrinkled
S	spermatozoids	Sperm produced by male reptiles
	spinose	to have spines
	subocular	the scales lying below the eye
	supralabials	scales found on the upper lip
	supraocular	scales found above the eye
	sympatric	species that occur in the same or overlapping geographical zones
T	taxonomy	the  study and scientific classifications of organisms
	temporals	the scales found on the head between the postoculars, supralabials and parietal scale
	terrestrial	to live on the ground
	thermoregulate	to regulate body temperature externally by using different temperature zones
	tympanum	the ear drum visually seen on some lizards
	torpor	a state of dormancy or hibernation
U
V	vent	the opening of the cloaca
	ventral	the underneath area of a reptile
	ventrolateral	the area occurring between the ventral surface and the lateral surface
W
X
Y
Z