History of the Herpetologists' League
The Herpetologists’ League, established in 1946, is an international organization of people devoted to studying herpetology — the biology of amphibians and reptiles. HL publishes two scholarly journals — the quarterly Herpetologica, which contains original research papers and essays, and the annual supplement Herpetological Monographs, which contains lengthy research articles, syntheses, and special symposia.
The history of the first 50 years of the Herpetologists’ League can be found in Hobart Smith’s 1986 paper in Herpetologica: “Chapman Grant, Herpetologica, and the Herpetologists’ League” (Volume 42, pages 1-32).
HL encourages continued dialogue among persons interested in herpetology at our annual meeting. Our society continues to recognize student achievement in herpetological research by presenting the HL Award for Graduate Research from among our student members at each annual meeting.
HL also sponsors the Distinguished Herpetologist Lecture Series at the annual meeting and continues to organize special symposia on topics of interest to the herpetological community. Our members are active participants, and are encouraged to become involved with HL committees and with regional and national issues of concern to our community.