Whats the difference between Herpetology and Herpetoculture?
Many people confuse herpetology with herpetoculture, or don’t understand that there are distinctly different goals in these studies. Here is a quick guide to the categories that make up both studies. Herpetology – the study of reptile and amphibian biology. This may include physiology, morphology, biogeography, behavioral studies, natural history studies, or conservation biology. A herpetologist makes a living at this, and in many cases has an advanced degree in the biological sciences. The goal of the studies is to learn more about the animals themselves. Just because a scientist uses amphibians or reptiles as a laboratory model does not make them a herpetologist. A scientist who uses Xenopus DNA to study gene cloning is a geneticist or a cell biologist, not a herpetologist. Amateur Herpetology – the non-professional study of reptile and amphibian biology. Yes, it is possible to be an amateur herpetologist. Most amateur herpers are interested in biogeography, natural history studies,
