 The terms "reptile" and "amphibian" were largely interchangeable, "reptile" (from Latin "repere", 'to creep') being preferred by the French.Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti was the first to formally use the term "Reptilia" for an expanded selection of reptiles and amphibians basically similar to that of Linnaeus.Today, the two groups are still commonly treated under the single heading herpetology.