Every name has a natural history.

Acris — Greek for locus (akris), referencing their insect like call.

blanchardi — Honoring herpetologist Frank N. Blanchard.

Acris — Greek for locus (akris), referencing their insect like call.

crepitans — Latin for clattering referencing it's repetitive clicking call.

Acris — Greek for locus (akris), referencing their insect like call.

gryllus — Latin for cricket or grasshopper, referencing its cricket like call

Actinemys — Greek for turtle (emys).

marmorata — Latin for marbled.

Agama — Creole word for lizard.

picticauda — Latin for painted (pictus) tail (cauda).

Agkistrodon — Greek for fishhook (ankistron) tooth (odontos), referencing curved fangs.

conanti — Honoring Roger Conant.

Agkistrodon — Greek for fishhook (ankistron) tooth (odontos), referencing curved fangs.

contortrix — Latin for contortionist .

Agkistrodon — Greek for fishhook (ankistron) tooth (odontos), referencing curved fangs.

laticinctus — Latin for broad (latus) branded (cinctus).

Agkistrodon — Greek for fishhook (ankistron) tooth (odontos), referencing curved fangs.

piscivorus — Latin for fish (piscis) eater (voro).

Alces — Latin for Elk

alces — Latin for Elk

Alligator — From Spanish for the lizard (el lagarto).

mississippiensis — Belonging to Mississippi.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

annulatum — Latin for furnished with rings.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

barbouri — Honoring Thomas Barbour.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

bishopi — Honoring Sherman C. Bishop.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

californiense — Belonging to California.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

cingulatum — Latin for belt or girdle.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

gracile — Latin for graceful or slender.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

jeffersonianum — Honoring Jefferson College, Pennsylvania

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

laterale — Latin for to the side.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

mabeei — Honoring William Bruce Mabee.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

macrodactylum — Greek for long (makros) toes (dakylos).

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

maculatum — Latin for spotted.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

mavortium — Latin for war-like

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

opacum — Latin for opaque, shaded, obscure.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

talpoideum — Latin for having the quality (-eum) similar to (-oides) a mole (talpa), referencing its burrowing habits.

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

texanum — Belonging to Texas

Ambystoma — Greek phrase meaning "to cram into the mouth".

tigrinum — Latin for tiger.

Amphiuma — Greek for breathing (pneuma) both sides (amphi).

means — Greek for fierceness (menos).

Amphiuma — Greek for breathing (pneuma) both sides (amphi).

pholeter — Greek for one who lurks in a whole.

Amphiuma — Greek for breathing (pneuma) both sides (amphi).

tridactylum — Greek for three (tri) fingers (daktylos).

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

americanus — Meaning belonging to America

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

baxteri — Honoring biologist George T. Baxter who discovered the species.

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

boreas — From Greek meaning northern

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

californicus — Meaning belonging to California

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

canorus — From Latin, meaning melodious, in reference to its breeding call.

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

cognatus — Latin for related by blood

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

debilis — Latin for crippled, probably in reference to its slender body and limbs

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

exsul — Latin for exile

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

fowleri — Honoring Samuel Fowler who described the toad in 1843

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

hemiophrys — From the Greek, half (hemi) eyebrow (ophrys) possibly refering to the boss above the eye

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

houstonensis — Belonging to Houston

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

microscaphus — From greek, small (mikros) shovel (skaphis), referencing its tarsal spade.

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

monfontanus — Latin for mountain (mons) spring (fons), referencing the high elevation spring habitat where this toad occurs.

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

nelsoni — Honoring American naturalist and ethnologist Edward William Nelson

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

nevadensis — Belong to Nevada referencing the type locality

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

punctatus — From latin meaning spotted, referencing its red spots

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

quercicus — From the Latin for oak leaves(quercinus)

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

retiformis — From the latin, net (retis) shape (forma), referencing its doral pattern.

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

speciosus — Latin meaning beautiful.

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

terrestris — Latin for of the earth

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

williamsi — Honoring Robert Williams, former Field Supervisor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Anaxyrus — From Greek meaning a king or chief

woodhousii — Honoring Samuel Washington Woodhouse

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

aeneus — Latin for cooper or bronze.

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

caryaenis — Referencing the genus for Hickory trees; carya

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

ferreus — Latin for iron, referencing color of clouded phase.

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

flavipunctatus — Latin for spotted (punctatus) yellow (flavi).

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

hardii — Honoring D. Elmo Hardy.

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

iecanus — Derived from local Native American word "Iëka" referencing Mount Shasta.

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

klamathensis — Referencing the Klamath Mountains of Northern California.

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

lugubris — Latin for gloomy or dark

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

niger — Latin for Black (niger) referencing its shiny black color.

Aneides — Greek for lacking (an-) shape (eidos).

vagrans — Latin for wandering, vagrent.

Anniella — Latin for little (-ella) ring (annela).

alexanderae — Honoring Annie Montague Alexander.

Anniella — Latin for little (-ella) ring (annela).

campi — Honoring Charles Lewis Camp.

Anniella — Latin for little (-ella) ring (annela).

grinnelli — Honoring Joseph Grinnell.

Anniella — Latin for little (-ella) ring (annela).

pulchra — Latin for beautiful

Anniella — Latin for little (-ella) ring (annela).

stebbinsi — Honoring Robert C. Stebbins.

Anolis — Antillean name for lizard.

carolinensis — Belonging to the Carolinas.

Anolis — Antillean name for lizard.

cristatellus — Latin for little (-ellus) crest (cristate)

Anolis — Antillean name for lizard.

cybotes — Greek for cube (kubos)

Anolis — Antillean name for lizard.

distichus — Greek for two (di) lines (stikhos).

Anolis — Antillean name for lizard.

equestris — Latin for mounted, or knight.

Anolis — Antillean name for lizard.

sagrei — Honoring of Spanish botanist Ramón de la Sagra

Antilocapra — Greek for antelope (Antilo) and Latin for goat (capra)

americana — Latin for "of America"

Apalone — Greek for soft or tender.

ferox — Latin for wild or feral.

Apalone — Greek for soft or tender.

mutica — Latin for curtailed or unarmed, referencing the lack of tubercles on the front of the carapace.

Apalone — Greek for soft or tender.

spinifera — Latin for having (-ifer) thorns or spines (spina).

Aplodontia — Greek for simple (haploos) tooth (odous)

rufa — Latin for reddish or red-haired

Arizona — Of Arizona.

elegans — Latin for elegant.

Ascaphus — From the greak meaning without (a) a spade (skaphis)

montanus — From latin meaning mountain, referencing its Rocky Mountain range

Ascaphus — From the greak meaning without (a) a spade (skaphis)

truei — Honoring biologist Frederick William True

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

exsanguis — Latin for similar to (ex) its family (sanguis)

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

gularis — Latin for of the throat.

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

hyperythrus — Greek for above (hyper) red (erythros).

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

inornatus — Latin for without ornament

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

laredoensis — Belonging to Laredo, Texas

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

marmoratus — Latin for marbled.

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

neomexicanus — Belonging to New Mexico.

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

neotesselatus — Latin for new (neo) checkered (tesselatus).

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

pai — Referencing the Pai tribes of .

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

scalaris — Latin for stairs or ladder

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

sexlineatus — Latin for six (sex) lined (lineatus).

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

sonorae — Belong to the Sonoran Desert.

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

stictogrammus — Greek for dotted (stiktos) writing (gramme).

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

tesselatus — Latin for checkered.

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

tigris — Latin for tiger.

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

uniparens — Latin for one (uni) parent (parens), referencing unisexual reproductive habits.

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

velox — Latin for speed

Aspidoscelis — Greek for shield (aspido) leg (skelos).

xanthonotus — Greek for orange (xanthos) back (notos).

Basiliscus — Latin for little king.

vittatus — Latin for striped.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

altasierrae — Latin for high (alta) Sierra

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

attenuatus — Latin for slender.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

bramei — Honoring Arden H. Brame Jr.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

campi — Honoring Charles L. Camp.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

diabolicus — Greek for devilish.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

gabrieli — Of the San Gabriel Mountins

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

gavilanensis — Of the Gabilan Mountains.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

gregarius — Latin for herd.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

incognitus — Latin for unknown.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

kawia — Referencing the Kawia indiginous people.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

luciae — Of the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

major — Latin for greater.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

minor — Latin for lesser.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

nigriventris — Latin for black (niger) belly (ventris).

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

pacificus — Of the Pacific Ocean.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

regius — Latin for regal, or the king, referencing the King River of California.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

relictus — Latin for left behind.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

robustus — Latin for large body.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

simatus — Latin for having a (-atus) snub-nose (simus).

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

stebbinsi — Honoring Robert C. Stebbins.

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

wakei — NHonoring herpetologist David Burton Wake

Batrachoseps — Greek for amphibian (batrachos) lizard (seps).

wrighti — Honoring Albert H. Wright and Margaret R. Wright

Bison — Latin for wild ox

bison — Latin for wild ox

Boa — Latin for large snake.

constrictor — One who constricts.

Bogertophis — Honoring Charles M. Bogert.

rosaliae — Belonging to Santa Rosalia, Mexico.

Bogertophis — Honoring Charles M. Bogert.

subocularis — Latin for below (sub) the eye (oculus), referencing the lorilabial scales below each eye.

Caiman — Spanish for crocodile.

crocodilus — Latin for crocodile.

Callisaurus — Greek for beautiful (kalos) lizard (saurus).

draconoides — Greek for dragon (draco) like (-eidos).

Caretta — Little (Latin, -etta) turtle (Spanish carey).

caretta — Little (Latin, -etta) turtle (Spanish carey).

Carphophis — Greek for straw (karphos) snake (ophis).

amoenus — Latin for lovely.

Carphophis — Greek for straw (karphos) snake (ophis).

vermis — Latin for worm.

Castor — Latin for beaver

canadensis — Neo-Latin for of Canada

Cemophora — Greek for muzzle (kemos) bearing (phoros).

coccinea — Latin for crimson or scarlet.

Cemophora — Greek for muzzle (kemos) bearing (phoros).

lineri — Honoring Ernest A. Liner

Cervus — Latin for deer or stag

canadensis — Latin for of Canada

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

baileyi — Honoring American naturalist and mammalogist, Vernon Bailey

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

eremicus — Greek for pertaining to (-icus) the desert (eremos)

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

nelsoni — Honoring American naturalist and ethnologist Edward William Nelson

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

rudinoris — Latin for rough (rudis) nose (naris)

Chaetodipus — Greek for bristle (chaite) foot (pous)

Chamaeleo — Greek for small (chamae) lion (leo).

calyptratus — Greek for hidden or disappeared (kalyptos).

Charina — Greek for graceful.

bottae — Honoring Paolo E. Botta.

Charina — Greek for graceful.

umbratica — Latin for living in shade.

Chelonia — Greek for tortoise.

mydas — Greek for damp or wetness (mydos).

Chelydra — Greek for water (hydros) turtle (chelys).

serpentina — Latin for snake-like, referencing the species neck.

Chrysemys — Greek for golden (khysos) turtle (emys).

dorsalis — Latin for of the back, referencing dorsal stripe.

Chrysemys — Greek for golden (khysos) turtle (emys).

picta — Latin for painted.

Clemmys — Greek for turtle or tortoise.

guttata — Latin for spotted.

Clonophis — Greek for twig (klonion) snake (ophis).

kirtlandii — Honoring Jared P. Kirtland.

Cnemidophorus — Greek for wearing (phoros) greaves (knemidos).

lemniscatus — Latin for decorated with ribbons.

Coleonyx — Greek for sheath (koleos) claw (onyx).

brevis — Latin for short or breif.

Coleonyx — Greek for sheath (koleos) claw (onyx).

reticulatus — Latin for netted.

Coleonyx — Greek for sheath (koleos) claw (onyx).

switaki — Honors Karl H. Switak.

Coleonyx — Greek for sheath (koleos) claw (onyx).

variegatus — Latin for of different colours, variegated.

Coluber — Latin for snake.

constrictor — Latin for one that constricts, oddly this species does not constrict its prey.

Coniophanes — Greek for appearing like (phanes) dust (konis).

imperialis — Latin for imperial or kingly.

Contia — Honoring John L. Le Conte.

longicaudae — Latin for long (longus) tail (cauda)

Contia — Honoring John L. Le Conte.

tenuis — Latin for thin.

Cophosaurus — Greek for deaf (kophos) lizard (saurus).

texanus — Belonging to Texas.

Cratogeomys — Greek for powerful (kratos) earth (geo) mouse (mys)

castanops — Latin for chestnut (castanea) and Greek for face (-ops) referencing the chestnut color in the gopher's face

Craugastor — From the greek, meanig brittle(krauros)-belly(gastēr)

augusti — Honoring herpetologist Auguste H.A. Dumeril

Crocodylus — Greek for crocodile (krokodilos).

acutus — Latin for pointed or sharpened.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

adamanteus — Greek for stubborn or unyielding.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

atrox — Latin for savage or fierce.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

cerastes — Greek for horned (kerastes), referencing the "horns" above the eyes.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

cerberus — Referencing the three-headed Cerberus of Greek mythology.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

horridus — Latin for dreadful, referencing the snake's venom.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

lepidus — Latin for pleasant, neat, or graceful.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

molossus — Latin for mastiff or hound.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

oreganus — Belonging to Oregon.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

ornatus — Latin for ornamented

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

pricei — Honoring William W. Price

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

pyrrhus — Honoring Pyrrhus of Epirus or Greek for reddish

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

ruber — Latin for red.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

scutulatus — Latin for diamond shaped.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

stephensi — Honoring Frank Stephens.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

tigris — Latin for tiger.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

viridis — Latin for green, referencing the dorsum coloration of some adults.

Crotalus — Greek for rattle (krotalon).

willardi — Honoring Frank C. Willard

Crotaphytus — Greek for side of head (krotaphos), referencing small plates on the head.

bicinctores — Latin for two (bi) bands (cinctus), referencing two black bands on neck and shoulder.

Crotaphytus — Greek for side of head (krotaphos), referencing small plates on the head.

collaris — Latin for collared.

Crotaphytus — Greek for side of head (krotaphos), referencing small plates on the head.

nebrius — Greek for skin like a fawn (nebrios), referencing white spots.

Crotaphytus — Greek for side of head (krotaphos), referencing small plates on the head.

reticulatus — Latin for bearing a net.