herptile

From herpetology (and similar words), by blending with reptile.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈhɜːp.taɪl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhɝp.taɪl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

herptile (plural herptiles)

1. (zoology, chiefly ecology) A reptile or amphibian.
   • 1980, L. D. Harris, G. B. Bowman, “Vertebrate predator subsystem, chapter 6”, in Alicja I. Breymeyer, George M. Van Dyne, editors, Grasslands, systems analysis, and man‎, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 592:

     Of all the vertebrates, the herptiles (reptiles and amphibians), mammals and birds predominate in terrestrial grassland ecosystems.

   • 1996, Robert H. Kadlec, Robert Lee Knight, Treatment Wetlands: Theory and Implementation‎, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 169:

     Because of the higher primary and secondary productivity in treatment wetlands compared to natural wetlands, herptile populations and all other higher consumer groups are frequently abundant.

   • 2008, Mary M. Rowland, Michael J. Wisdom, “Habitat Networks for Terrestrial Wildlife: Concepts and Case Studies, chapter 19”, in Joshua J. Millspaugh, Frank R. Thompson, III, editors, Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes‎, Academic Press, →ISBN, page 516:

     Forty vertebrates of concern, including 13 mammals, 17 birds, and 10 herptiles, were selected for analysis (Table 19-3).

This term is used to encompass both reptiles and amphibians, especially in situations where a member of either group of animals is meant without excluding the other.

• replieth