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What is a "herp"? and what is "herping"?

"Herps" is the vernacular word for reptiles and amphibians, so you don't have to say "Reptiles and Amphibians". It comes from the Greek word "Herpetology", that means "things that crawl" and is concerned with poikilothermic, ectothermic tetrapods, or so they say. Herping is the act of searching for amphibians or reptiles, often done at night in Hong Kong, as many species are nocturnal.

Here, one of my fave herps, the Changeable Lizard, checking me out next to the Deaf Cafe at Lions Park, SaiKung, a great place for plants and animals.

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