A snake wrangler
2006-07-06 13:24:31
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Herpetology (Greek herpeton = to creep, to ramp and logos = in this context explanation or reason) is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians. Many biologists use the term "herp" for all reptiles and amphibians.
Herpetology deals with what are called the cold-blooded tetrapods, that is, those land vertebrates which are ectothermic (deriving their body temperature from their environment) rather than endothermic (deriving their body heat from an independent, internal source). Studies in this field also relate to snakes (the cold-blooded reptiles lacking limbs). This distinction applies to most (though not quite all) living tetrapods, but may break down somewhat in regard to extinct reptilian creatures such as dinosaurs, about whose body metabolism we know frustratingly little and the sea turtles which seem to have some degree of endothermy owing to their large size. (See the article on Bob Bakker for more information about the warm-blooded dinosaur theory.)
The two taxonomic classes dealt with in herpetology, reptiles and amphibians, share "cold-bloodedness" but otherwise have surprisingly little else in common. Typically, amphibians have a permeable skin that assists in the exchange of gases and respiration, have a two-chambered heart like fish, and are often bound to water for at least some part of their life, if only the laying of eggs or birth of young. Their skins have many glands and are often toxic. Reptiles, by contrast, have a dry watertight skin, usually protected by scales, that normally has few if any glands. The reptilian heart is a three-chambered one (four-chambered in the case of crocodilians), and living reptilians usually if not always lay eggs or give birth on land; even marine turtles which only come ashore for this purpose. Again, extinct creatures may have exhibited some differences. A number of reptile species, most notably some of the snake species, undergo live birth in which development is completely internal.
Herpetology offers benefits to humanity in the study of the role of amphibians and reptiles in global ecology, in particular in the role of amphibians as long-range ecological warning devices (their decline worldwide is the subject of much study) and the use of the toxins of some amphibians and venoms of some snakes in human medicine. Currently, some snake venom has been used to create anti-coagulants that work to treat stroke victims and heart attack cases.
2006-07-13 20:03:05
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answer #2
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answered by Neko W 1
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Me, I will be going on a rattlesnake hunt, not to kill of course but to find and study them in about a week. I actually did a presentation in my Ecology class where I milked a baby Rattler, kind of tough since there is hardly any body for you to hold onto. anyways, if you were asking about a specific name I'm not sure, but Toxicologists study venomous animals and plants and stuff so they would, and so do those who study venomous snakes.
2006-07-07 01:13:18
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answer #3
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answered by niceguy4agze 2
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a NUT!!!! hehe... Snake handler.. or wrangler... one guy in Texas likes to be called a "venom collector" but I think he's crazy too! h ahahaahaha! snake milker? Biologist? Reptile enthusiast?
2006-07-06 20:46:40
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answer #4
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answered by ♥Tom♥ 6
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Veterinarians and zoo keepers work with snakes. Herpetologists work with reptiles and amphibians, but I'm not sure about snakes.
2006-07-06 20:30:43
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answer #5
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answered by Ginger/Virginia 6
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A Lunatic
2006-07-06 22:26:57
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answer #6
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answered by Sarah M 3
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Jay Sommers http://www.jaysommersreptiles.com
2006-07-07 00:13:57
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answer #7
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answered by TimmyD928 2
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Steve Irwin.
Or did you mean something more general like the word "herpetologist"?
2006-07-06 20:25:34
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answer #8
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answered by Chris B 3
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A herpetologist. Sounds funny, but it's true. :-)
2006-07-06 20:27:39
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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An idiot?
lol j/k
2006-07-06 20:25:38
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answer #10
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answered by psych0bug 5
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