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This biodiversity survey seminar course will cover the fundamentals of herpetology – the study of amphibians and reptiles – including global herpetofaunal diversity, evolutionary relationships, and key biological traits like physiology, morphology, and behavior. Topics discussed in this class include the major evolutionary transitions that have contributed to the success and/or extinction of herpetofaunal groups over deep time, as well as contemporary threats and possible solutions with respect to their conservation. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying and understanding the natural history of the herpetofauna of New York and the northeastern United States.