Само мала допуна: у неком тренутку (нисам нашла за сходно да памтим када), од херпетологије, у смислу који је Јое лепо навео, одвојена је батрахологија, која проучава водоземце (херпетологија у ужем смислу, дакле, проучава само гмизавце). Ево, нашла сам:
herpetology "study of reptiles," 1824, from Fr. herpétologie, coined from Gk. herpeton "reptile," lit. "creeping thing," from herpein "to creep" (see serpent) + logia "a speaking in a certain manner, study of." (
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=herpetology)
Batrachology is the study of amphibians. Most people use the term "herpetology" but this includes reptiles. Evolutionary biologists all agree that taxonomy should reflect natural groups, i.e., monophyletic clades. So, why do we still use a grossly "polyphyletic" concept of herpetology as including the Amphibia? The only seemingly rational argument, besides the worn out appeal to "tradition," is that similar logistics and field protocols involved in studying extant amphibians and reptiles. If this argument holds water, then I should like to be the first to propose the new science of "flying tetrapods," since the study of both bats and birds utilizes mist nets, gloves and cloth bags. Otherwise, "herpetology" should be restricted to reptiles. [Whether they want to include flying reptiles (birds) in that group is for the herpetologists to decide.] (
http://dna.ac/batrachology.html)
Batrachian. pl. 1. (Zool.) The order of amphibians which includes the frogs and toads; the Anura. Sometimes the word is used in a wider sense as equivalent to Amphibia (
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Batrachia)
Batrachia \Ba*tra"chi*a\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. batra`cheios - belonging to a frog, fr. ba`trachos frog.] (Zool.) (
http://www.netadviser.ro/Batrachia.htm)
