Law360, New York ( January 27, 2015, 12:47 PM EST) -- A herpetologist is an expert on reptiles and amphibians. If you knew that, chances are that you may also have encountered the bog turtle or its habitat when seeking permits for a project involving land disturbance. In areas of potential bog turtle habitat, a person qualified in herpetology must conduct a survey of the applicable area before a permit will be issued. This article is a general summary of the regulatory protections for endangered and threatened species under both federal and Pennsylvania law. Bog turtles are given special mention because so much of Pennsylvania is considered friendly to the illusive, yet ubiquitous little turtle. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists 15 Pennsylvania counties as "bog turtle counties of occurrence or likely occurrence." [See the Service's "Guidelines for Bog Turtle Surveys" (revised April 2006)]...