Reptiles and amphibians are traditionally studied together under the scientific field "herpetology" (from the Greek herpein, to creep). Visit the NBII Amphibians Project to learn more about amphibians.
Threatened and Endangered Species
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) [Photo: David Burdick, NOAA Photo Library]
The Department of Defense (DoD) Threatened and Endangered Species (TES) Repository represents a compilation of DoD documents and data made available online through NBII.
The National Resources Monitoring Partnership (NRMP) is a collaboration between state, Canadian provincial, and federal natural resource management agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutions to share protocols being used to govern monitoring projects. Visit NRMP to find reptile protocols being used for research and reptile monitoring projects happening across the land.
Amphisbaenians, lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodilians, and tuatara make up the 8,734 known reptile species of the world. Their size and shape are tremendously diverse, from the largest living turtle, the leatherback sea turtle, to the tiny, 16mm gecko (Sphaerodactylus ariasae). Despite the great diversity, scientists are concerned that the diversity of reptiles in the world is declining. Volunteering at an organization dedicated to conservation is one way to help prevent reptiles in the wild from becoming endangered or extinct.
Numerous species of amphibians and reptiles have been introduced into the United States. They often come as hitch hikers on cargo and imported plants. Many also are introduced into nonnative habitat by people releasing their unwanted pets.
