What is/isn a herp?
The charter says “reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic vivarium pets,” but the word “herp” usually means “reptile or amphibian.” The world’s living reptiles are divided into six groups: snakes, lizards, chelonians (turtles and tortoises), crocodilians, the tuatara (a single lizardlike species from New Zealand), and amphisbaenians (“worm lizards”). The amphibians consist of anurans (frogs and toads), caudates (newts and salamanders), and caecilians (wormlike aquatic and burrowing amphibians, much less known than their cousins). Other exotic pets, like hedgehogs and sugar gliders, are not herps and are not within the subjects covered by rec.pets.herp. However, the charter of the group explicitly embraces discussions on some vivarium-dwelling creatures that are not strictly herps (see question 4.4, below), as well as the care and breeding of feeder animals.
