Ophiologists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A professional dedicated to the study of snakes and similar reptiles is identified as a specialist in herpetology
2. An expert who focuses on the biology and behavior of serpents is considered knowledgeable in the field of ophiology
3. A specialist engaged in the scientific examination of snakes and related reptiles is recognized as an authority in herpetological studies

Etymology: "Ophiologists" is the plural of "ophiologist," a person who studies snakes. The noun is built from "ophiology," the study of snakes, combined with the suffix "-ist," which marks a person who practises or specialises in a field. The first part, "ophio-," comes from the Greek "ophis," meaning "serpent" or "snake," the same root behind the word "ophidian," used for the snake group as a whole. Attaching "-logy," the Greek-derived suffix for a field of study, to "ophio-" gives the name of the discipline, and "-ist" then turns it into the name of the person who works in it.