Herpetology Glossary

noun A frog or toad, or relating to frogs and toads

• The study of batrachians, such as frogs and toads, is known as herpetology.
• I saw a bunch of batrachians hopping around the pond yesterday.
• Those batrachians are so cute, I just want to squish them!
• Her singing voice was so melodious, it sounded like a batrachian chorus.

noun a slow-moving reptile with a hard shell, typically living on land

• The tortoise is a slow-moving reptile that is often found in warm climates.
• I saw a tortoise crossing the road on my way to work today.
• That old tortoise is always taking forever to make a decision.
• He moves at a tortoise's pace when it comes to finishing his work assignments.

adjective relating to or resembling a snake

• The colubrine snake slithered gracefully through the grass.
• I saw a cool colubrine snake while hiking in the woods.
• That colubrine dude is always so smooth and slick.
• Her colubrine movements on the dance floor were mesmerizing.

adjective reproductive strategy in which embryos develop inside eggs that are retained within the mother's body until they are ready to hatch

• The ovoviviparous fish species gives birth to live young that have developed from eggs within the mother's body.
• I learned in biology class that some animals are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
• Who knew that some animals are like, half pregnant? That's so ovoviviparous!
• Her creativity is ovoviviparous, as she gives birth to new ideas that have been developing within her mind.