adpressed: lying flat or close to the body
aestivate: to remain inactive during hot, summer weather
aggregate: to gather in a group
amplexus: the mating embrace of frogs and toads in which the male clasps onto the back of the female while they each release either eggs or sperm into the water
anal plate: the scale that covers the anus
anterior: pertaining to the front portion of an animal
arboreal: describes tree-dwelling behavior
arthropod: animal of the phylum Arthropoda; includes spiders, insects, and crustaceans
boss: swollen, raised area in front of and between the eyes of some frogs and toads
brille: transparent scale covering the eye on snakes; also known as the ocular scale
carapace: upper (top) shell of a turtle or tortoise
caudal: pertaining to the tail region of an animal
cloaca: a duct in amphibians and reptiles that is used for the expulsion of digestive and excretory waste as well as reproductive cells (sperm and eggs)
communal: sharing a particular habitat feature such as a hibernaculum
cranial crests: raised ridges on the heads of some amphibians
crepuscular: active during hours of dawn and dusk
diurnal: active during daylight hours
dorsal: pertaining to the back of an animal
dorsolateral: pertaining to an area between the back and the sides of an animal
endemic: native to a specific area and occurring nowhere else outside of that area
femoral pores: pores on the ventral surface of the thigh of some lizards
fossorial: describes a behavior of living underground
gametes: cells of reproduction; sperm in males and eggs in females
hibernaculum (hibernacula): habitat feature used for hibernation
hibernate: to remain inactive during cold, winter weather
interorbital: between the eyes
labial: pertaining to the lips
larva (larvae): aquatic offspring of frogs, toads, and salamanders
lateral: pertaining to the side of an animal
longitudinal: occurring lengthwise on an animal, from head to tail
loreal: pertaining to the region between the eyes and nostrils
medial: pertaining to the centerline or close to the center of an animal body
metamorphosis: transformation of a larval amphibian into its adult form
middorsal: pertaining to the centerline of the back of an animal
nasal septum: tissue or membrane that divides the internal nose into left and right halves
neotenic: retaining larval characteristics after reaching sexual maturity (also see paedomorphic)
nocturnal: active during nighttime hours
nuchal plate: the median marginal scute at the anterior edge of the carapace in turtles
occipital: region located at the back of the head
ocelli (ocellus): circular or round dark spots
paedomorphic: retaining juvenile or larval features into adulthood (also see neotenic)
parotoid gland: external gland on the neck or shoulder of some amphibians that often secretes toxins as a defense mechanism
plastron: lower (bottom) shell of a turtle or a tortoise
posterior: pertaining to the rear or caudal portion of an animal
reticulated: having a netlike pattern
rostral: pertaining to the snout
saltatory locomotion: leaping or hopping
scalation: describes the pattern and distribution of scales on reptiles
scale rows: longitudinal rows of lateral and dorsal scales extending the length of snakes (and lizards to some extent) from just behind the head to the tip of the tail. Scale rows are normally counted at mid-body by choosing a lateral scale adjacent to the ventral scales and counting in a diagonal fashion until the ventral scales are reached on the opposite side of the body (see Fig. 14).
scutes: flattened scales on turtle and tortoise shells or the large ventral scales on snakes
spermatophore: packet of sperm cells deposited by male salamanders to be collected by females for fertilization of eggs
subcaudal: pertaining to the portion under or on the ventral side of the tail
terrestrial: describes land-dwelling behavior
tubercles: small, rounded, wartlike projections
tuberculate: bearing rounded, wartlike projections (tubercles)
tympanum: external eardrum on some amphibians and reptiles
vent: external opening of the cloaca; also the opening by which the genitalia of reptiles are exposed during reproduction
ventral: pertaining to the belly or underside of an animal
vocal sac: an inflatable pouch on the throat of male frogs and toads