ophiology

An ophiologist is a scientist who studies snakes.

The study of snakes is called ophiology, which is a branch of herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles. While most herpetologists study a variety of amphibians and reptiles, ophiologists focus specifically on snakes.

Example: The ophiologist said that the Malagasy Leaf-Nosed Snake is the strangest snake he has ever identified.

The first records of the term ophiologist come from around the 1820s. It combines the Greek ophio-, meaning “snakelike,” and the suffix –logist, meaning “person who is knowledgeable in.”

One of the main tasks of ophiologists is to identify new species of snakes and try to determine as much as they can about them, such as where they live the most, whether their biology or behavior differs from other, similar snake species, and whether they are dangerous to humans.

Some ophiologists study a sub-branch called ethno-ophiology, which is the study of human and snake interactions. They study these interactions in relation to culture and the ecosystem.

What are some words that share a root or word element with ophiologist? 

• ophiology
• ophiological
• ophidian

What are some words that often get used in discussing ophiologist?

• fangs
• herpetology
• snake
• zoology

Ophiology is mostly used only in zoology.

ophiologist, n.: Therein lies the coil – you think you will know them to master them, but instead they just draw you deeper and deeper into their mysteries.

— David Levithan (@loversdiction) July 14, 2018

What I am trying to say is: I'm not a poet, I'm an ophiologist. -Henry Fonda as Charles in The Lady Eve #classicmovies

— Classic Movie Hub (@ClassicMovieHub) May 17, 2014

Bad news: I went down the Wikipedia rabbit hole for several procrastinatory hours.

Good news: I'm now an adept ophiologist with a comprehensive understanding of the bubonic plague's contribution to the development of early capitalism.

— Samson (@SamsonOT) February 14, 2019

True or False?

Ophiologists are a specific type of herpetologists.