From an early age, Rudolf Zimmermann discovered his fondness for reptiles and amphibians. The special feature of the volume presented here by Zimmermann is that it characterizes the different orders, families, genera, and species primarily based on their external, immediately noticeable features, making them accessible to the reader. He succeeds in quickly and efficiently introducing even the uninformed reader to the topic, allowing for an understanding and categorization of the various animals. This is a carefully edited reprint of the original edition from 1908.