Fame
Name ten of the most significant herpetologists ever. Ready? 3...2...1...
Nothing?
Okay, name, uh, just one herpetologist. Could be someone significant, could just be someone you've maybe heard of one time. Ready? 3...2...1...
Still nothing?
Yeah, herpetology is not going to get you name-famous, but that doesn't mean the outcome of your work won't appear in trade magazines, science websites, and sometimes the Arts and Science section of the local newspaper.
You're no Lady Gaga, but can Lady Gaga say that after hours of dissections and lab tests, she successfully utilized toad skin secretion as a heart stimulant? Probably not.
Herpetologists aren't really known by name, remember? We said that like a minute ago.