By Gabriela Rodriguez

Herpetology is a class where students can learn about the behaviors and the ecosystems that surround herps, the world of amphibians and reptiles.

It is one of the taxonomy classes at DelVal where students who are part of the Animal Biotech and Conservation (ABC) department can partake in. This class is run by Dr. Maggie Liguori, who has been teaching the class for 14 years, and when she first began, there weren’t many herps on campus.

During one recent class, students were digging in a vernal pool, which is a seasonal wetland that’s a shallow depression that fills the water during the winter and spring but will dry up for the most time of summer and fall. This was done through the Ecological Restoration class, a course that was offered here at DelVal, thanks to the project more species started to appear on campus. This class allows students to gain the basic skills to become herpetologists and gain leadership 

As a student, the program will teach you the appropriate skills to identify reptiles and amphibians, learn about their anatomy and behavior and give you the field experience and materials to begin your herpetology experience.

As a multimedia producer for Delaware Valley University’s Full360 student media, I decided to go behind the scenes to showcase and capture what others might not see if not part of the class.

This may give viewers a chance to be part of the class, even if it’s just for a couple of seconds to get a feel for what it’s like in the field to take part in herping. Here is what Dr. Liguori and some of her students had to share.