Keen to expand your knowledge of reptiles and amphibians? Then our herpetology course is for you! Ideal for pet store workers, those interested in these animals or as further study for scientists, our Certificate of Reptiles and Amphibian Biology will develop your ability to understand the biology, ecology, conservation and captivity of reptiles and amphibians.

You will explore classification systems, animal taxonomy, conservation issues and reproductive strategies, habitats – aquatic and terrestrial –and how pollution and environmental issues affect the species. You will also learn how to care for animals in captivity, including feeding, conditions, housing, disease prevention and legal considerations.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a herpetology course include:

• Learning about taxonomic classification, terminology and the characteristics of reptiles
• Exploring Subclass Lepidosauria and Subclass Archosauria
• Gaining an understanding of Testudine (turtles), Squamata (snakes and lizards) and Rhynchocephalia characteristics (tuatara)
• Studying Class Reptilia (reptiles), Order Crocodilia (crocodilians), Order Squamata, scaled reptiles, lizards (suborder Sauria) and snakes (suborder Serpentes)
• Examining reptile biology, anatomy, skeleton and scales and skutes
• Understanding ectothermal regulation, coloration, respiration and metabolism
• Attaining knowledge of food, digestion, senses and locomotion
• Gaining insights into Class Amphibia (Amphibians), Order Anura (frogs and toads) and Order Urodela (caudata) – salamanders and newts
• Learning about Axolotls (ambystoma mexicanum) and Order Apoda (caecilians)
• Exploring amphibian anatomy including the skeleton, skin, ectothermal regulation and colouration
• Gaining an understanding of respiration, metabolism, branchial, buccopharyngeal, cutaneous and pulmonic
• Studying food and digestion, senses and reproduction
• Examining the ecology of reptiles
• Understanding species richness, behaviour, feeding, constriction and inertia feeding
• Attaining knowledge of biting and grasping, suction feeding, iviparity and oviparity
• Gaining insights into nest building, habitat use (aquatic and terrestrial), basking and hibernation
• Learning about the ecology of amphibians, the use of habitat and water and temperature relationships
• Exploring feeding, vocal communication and advertisement, territorial, release and distress calls
• Gaining an understanding of social behaviour, dealing with predators, reproduction and parental care
• Studying conservation issues including habitat change, edge effects, pollution and environmental acidification (acid rain)
• Examining pesticides, endocrine disrupting chemicals, the spread of disease, invasive species and climate change
• Understanding conservation genetics and examples of conservation programs in place
• Attaining knowledge of how to keep reptiles and amphibians
• Gaining insights into special conditions for amphibians and reptiles
• Learning how to prevent the spread of disease from reptiles to humans
• Exploring housing for reptiles, reptile captivity problems and reptile feed and feeding
• Gaining an understanding of common ailments including thiamine deficiency
• Studying parasitic, fungal, viral and metabolic bone diseases

And more!

What is Herpetology?

The study of reptiles and amphibians is known in the zoological world as herpetology. And as you’ll learn in thisherpetology course, it is concerned with the study of amphibians (including toads, frogs, newts and salamanders), caecilians (limbless, vermiform or serpentine amphibians), and reptiles (including lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, crocodilians, terrapins, tuataras and amphisbaenians. More precisely, herpetology is stated as the study of ectothermic (cold-blooded) tetrapods.

Herpetology offers benefits to humanity in the study of the role of reptiles and amphibians in global ecology, especially because amphibians are often very sensitive to environmental changes. This offers a visible warning to humans that significant changes are taking place. Some venoms and toxins produced by amphibians and reptiles are also useful in human medicine.

Amazing Facts About Reptiles

Our cold-blooded friends have many peculiarities about them, making them so unique. Here are some fascinating facts you may not be aware of.

• Australia is home to about 14 per cent of the world’s reptilian population. That is a total of over 800 reptile species! Whats more, 93 per cent of them are unique to Australia.
• The Australian crocodile is the largest living reptile in the world. Also known as the Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile, the adults’ size is an average of three to five metres in length.
• Reptiles are ectothermic meaning they are cold-blooded and their body temperature depends on external sources such as the sun or warm surfaces.
• Not all reptiles give birth the same way — some give birth by laying eggs, while others give birth to live young. Amazingly, one lizard in Australia appears to be capable of simultaneously laying eggs and giving birth to live babies – something that has never previously been observed. Scientists at the University of Sydney have spent years studying the three-toed skink, more formally known as Saiphos equalis. They already knew that the skink is capable of “bimodal reproduction” (can either lay eggs or carry babies internally), but it was always assumed they would rely on one method or the other.
• Reptiles have scales which provide protection for these animals from both the environment and other predators. It also means they can hold in more water and as such are able to live in dryer climates.
• The first reptiles were thought to have evolved around 320 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.
• Soil temperature determines a reptile hatchling’s gender which is known as temperature-dependent sex determination. Essentially it means that the temperature of developing eggs is what decides whether the offspring will be male or female.
• Reptiles can cry, which is a critical part of healthy eyesight.
• Reptiles inhabit every continent on the globe other than Antarctica due to the extreme cold temperatures. Because reptiles are cold blooded and rely on an external heat source to survive, they are more predominantly found in warmer climates.
• Large reptiles can live several months on only a single meal because they have low energy needs so can live in areas where food is in short supply.

Amazing Facts About Amphibians

Amphibians are the other group of animals you will learn about in this herpetology course. Here are some amazing facts that may give you some inspiration!

• They are animals that live in water and on land. The word “amphibian” comes from two Greek words — “amphi” which means “both” and “bio” which means “life”.
• The earliest amphibians evolved in the Devonian period from lobe-finned fish which had jointed leg-like fins with digits. They could crawl along the sea bottom and some had developed primitive lungs to help them breathe air when the stagnant pools of the swamps were low in oxygen.They could also use their strong fins to hoist themselves out of the water and onto dry land if necessary.
• Most amphibians have thin, moist skin that helps them to breathe.
• Amphibians are considered vertebrates as they have a backbone.
• Frogs swallow their food whole. The size of what they can eat is determined by the size of their mouths and their stomach.
• Frogs cannot live in salt water.
• It is a myth that you can get warts from touching a frog or toad.
• A group of frogs is called an army.
• An amphibian’s skin absorbs air and water. This makes them very sensitive to air and water pollution.
• All amphibians have gills, some only as larvae and others for their entire lives.
• The smallest frog and vertebrate in the world is the New Guinean frog (Paedophryne amauensis). The biggest amphibian is the Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus).

The Australian Herpetological Society (AHS)  

The AHS is the leading association for professional herpetologists in Australia. It was founded (as the Australian Reptile Club) in 1949 and was the first natural history society in Australia devoted specifically to herpetology.

The objectives of the Society are:

• to promote the scientific study of amphibians and reptiles
• to provide opportunities for discussion and dissemination of information among its members by appropriate means, including meetings and publications; and
• to take an active interest in the conservation of amphibians and reptiles.

At the time of the AHS’s formation, the only identification guide for any Australian reptiles was the 1929 book Snakes of Australia by James Roy Kinghorn, a zoologist, museum curator and broadcaster. Within a few years of its formation, the Society began its first newsletter, The Australian Reptile Club Journal. This was soon followed by a more formal publication, Reptilia to report members’ observations.

Both of these were short-lived. However, in 1963, a new publication, Herpetofauna was initiated, the title reflecting the broader range of interests and change in name of the Society. It is now one of the major herpetological journals in Australia with a readership of both professionals and amateurs.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of herpetology and how to care for reptiles and amphibians in their natural and captive environment with a herpetology course such as our Certificate of Reptiles and Amphibian Biology.