爬虫類(はちゅうるい)

爬虫類(はちゅうるい) is the biological classification term for reptiles — cold-blooded, scaly vertebrates.

Compounds

爬虫(はちゅう) (crawling creature; 爬(は) = crawl, 虫(ちゅう) = creature) + 類(るい) (class, category).

Types

• 蛇(へび): snake
• 蜥蜴(とかげ): lizard
• 亀(かめ): turtle, tortoise
• 鰐(わに): crocodile, alligator

Related words

• 哺乳類(ほにゅうるい): mammals
• 両生類(りょうせいるい): amphibians
• 鳥類(ちょうるい): birds
• 魚類(ぎょるい): fish

Usage

Also used colloquially to refer to pet reptiles: 爬虫類(はちゅうるい)を飼(か)う (to keep reptiles as pets). Reptile enthusiasts and pet shops sometimes abbreviate it to ハチュ.