Herpetophobia

Herpetophobia is a common specific phobia consisting of an intense fear of, or aversion to, reptiles, most often lizards and snakes, and is frequently extended to similar vertebrates such as amphibians. It is considered one of the most prevalent animal phobias, and the emotional response it produces ranges from mild anxiety at the sight of a reptile to severe panic attacks, nausea, or an inability to remain in the same space as one. The phobia manifests differently from person to person: some sufferers are distressed only by directly viewing a reptile, while others cannot tolerate simply knowing that one is present nearby, even out of sight. The condition is distinguished from an ordinary, mild wariness of reptiles, which is not the same as the clinical phobia, since the clinical form involves a disproportionate and persistent fear response that interferes with everyday functioning.