Alligatoridae
• Alligator – Eusuchian
Order: Crocodilian
Amphibian
Frog – Rana
Class: Amphibia (amphibians like frogs, salamanders, and newts)
Families: Ranidae (true frogs) and
Hylidae (tree frogs)
Order: Anura (tailless amphibians)
Phylum: Chordata (animals with a notochord or backbone)
Ambystoma – The genus includes well-known species like the axoloti and the tiger salamander.
Spotted salamander – Ambystoma maculatum
Ambystoma has two possible etymologies: either from the New Latin “anabystoma,” meaning “to cram into the mouth,” or from the Greek amblys (“blunt“) and stoma (“mouth”)
“Maculatum” is a Latin term meaning “spotted,” “blotched,” or “speckled“.
It is used in scientific names to describe organisms that have spots, such as the plant Conium maculatum (poison hemlock) which has purple blotches on its stems, or the animal Ambystoma maculatum (spotted salamander)
• Spotted salamander – Ambystoma maculatum
Serpentes
• Snake – Ophidian/Anguinel
Colubridae: The largest family, which includes garter snakes, rat snakes, and king snakes.
Elapidae: The cobra family, which includes sea snakes and mambas.
Indian cobra – Naja naja
Viperidae: The viper family, which includes rattlesnakes.
Mojave rattlesnake – Crotalus scutulatus
Timber rattlesnake – Crotalus horridus),
Western diamondback rattlesnake – Crotalus atrox
Crotalus – The word itself comes from the Greek krótalon, meaning “rattle” or “castanet“.
Aatrox’s name likely comes from the Latin word atrox, meaning “fierce,” “savage,” or “cruel” This is consistent with the English word “atrocity,” which also derives from atrox. The Latin ater (dark) may be a further influence.
Testudines (also known as Chelonia)
• Turtle – Testudo/Chelonian
hexafu 