smartestyear:

Herpetology is the study of reptiles, coming from the Greek herpeton, literally meaning “creeping thing.”  This is also where herpes comes from.  I mean the word.  The actual viral disease comes in a much more informal way. 

 ”The diseas that creeps across the skin” from herpein “too creep”. Ultimately related to Latin serpere “to creep”, serpens “snake”.

I <3 Etymologies.