Herpetofauna means the collective group of reptiles and amphibians, often considered for a specific region, habitat, or time period.

Basic meaning

The word [herpetofauna](javascript:void(0)) is used in ecology and zoology to talk about “all the reptiles and amphibians” in an area, such as the snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders living in a particular forest or country. Many scientists treat it as a mass noun, similar to “birdlife” or “fish fauna.”

How it is used

Researchers might describe the “herpetofauna of a wetland” when discussing conservation, biodiversity surveys, or how climate change affects these animals. Field guides, government wildlife pages, and scientific articles all use [herpetofauna](javascript:void(0)) to group amphibians and reptiles together for practical study, even though they are not closely related evolutionarily.