Average customer rating:
- Excellent conceptually
- Anurans and Squamates and Crocodylia! Oh, my!
- Herp Textbook
- Best of what's available
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Herpetology, Third Edition
F. H. Pough ,
Robin M. Andrews ,
John E. Cadle ,
Martha L. Crump ,
Alan H. Savitsky , and
Kentwood D. Wells
Manufacturer: Benjamin Cummings
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Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Eastern & Central North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)
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Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles, Second Edition
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A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians (Peterson Field Guides(R))
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A Key to Amphibians & Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada
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The Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State: Identification, Natural History, and Conservation
ASIN: 0131008498 |
Book Description
In this revised edition of Herpetology, the authors provide the only treatment of amphibians and reptiles that integrates information about evolutionary relationships with ecology, behavior, and physiology and provide up-to-date references to the primary literature.
KEY TOPICS The book is broken down into four parts and explores these specific questions: what are amphibians and reptiles; how do they work; what do they do; and what are their prospects for survival.
MARKET This book is ideal for professionals such as zoo and aquarium curators, animal keepers, reptile and amphibian hobbyists, wildlife managers and conservationists who are looking for an integrated approach to the ecology, behavior, morphology, and physiology of amphibians and reptiles, presented in a phylogenetic and organismal context.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent conceptually.......2006-01-24
It's certainly not complete or perfect, and as a reviewer notes, contains some omissions and errors. However, while a textbook should strive to be as good as possible in those areas, it's no substitute for the primary literature in peer-reviewed journals and shouldn't be viewed as such, and instead should be seen as more of a conceptual introduction, in which I feel it does well. It avoids the tempting parade-of-taxa style, and instead focuses on the important concepts uniting reptiles and to an extent all animals, such as osmoregulation, feeding, locomotion, reproductive strategies, etc.
The section dealing with my primary focus, locomotion, is rather sparse, and contains some outdated information, but nothing that can't be corrected with a quick read through the literature. With any luck, my own work will be in the next edition.
Anurans and Squamates and Crocodylia! Oh, my!.......2002-11-19
This is easily the best herpetology text book out there. It is informative, yet not full of the boringness (if that's a word...) of many textbooks. You might say that it's...fun to read.
Herp Textbook.......2000-05-03
I have just finished an undergradute course which used this book as the main text. I agree with the previous reviewer that there is considerable overlap and occasional contradiction. The early chapters tend to use a lot of technical jargon, and seem to be written for people who already understand the material. I was not so impressed with phylogenic descriptions which frequently failed to discuss unifying characteristics within families. Later sections, including locomotion, water balance, and mate selection are well written. This book would benefit from a glossary, more relevant tables and figures, and a more inclusive index. Overall, editing is rather sketchy.
Best of what's available.......1998-10-22
Despite some fairly serious errors and omissions, this book is the best academic treatment of the field of herpetology yet written. It is a multi-authored text which allows people to write on what they know best, rather than making authors stretch well beyond their fields of expertise. This unfortunately means there's a lot of repetition between chapters, and some flat-out contradictions. It does a fairly good of reviewing the literature in a number of sub-fields of herpetology, and so provides more up-to-date reviews than you're likely to find in "Biology of the Reptilia". It is a good choice for a herpetology course for undergraduates--in fact I plan to use it for such a course in summer 1999. Amazing omissions: dinosaurs!! birds!! biogeography!! Notable inclusions: good chapters on foraging ecology, classification (too short), & thermoregulation.
Book Description
Herpetology, Second Edition has been thoroughly revised. The text has been reorganized, new chapters have been added, new text references have been inserted. All this plus new color systematics sections will maintain this book as THE leading textbook on the biology of amphibians and reptiles. The book will also showcase reptiles and amphibians as model systems in conceptual areas of biology. Such a text will help integrate herpetology as a discipline into conceptually oriented undergraduate programs. The book should also appeal to a large audience of sophisticated lay people interested in reptiles and amphibians.
* Written by internationally recognized experts on the biology of amphibians and reptiles
* Provides a general background on the evolution and morphology of amphibians and reptiles
* Details what is known about reproduction and life histories
* Examines physiological ecology, emphasizing water balance, temperature, and energy
* Integrates population and community ecology with conservation biology
* Provides detailed taxonomic accounts of all higher taxa, including high quality distribution maps and color photographs
Customer Reviews:
great herp book!.......2007-08-04
It is a great herp book, with lots of information. But i guess there are newer version of it on the market...
Still Missing Some Details and Organization (otherwise very good).......2007-02-21
This is generally a VERY good book! Still, given minimal initial knowledge of Herpetology, the book can be somewhat ambiguous and disorganized and is missing a few essential details such as habitat and food for families of reptiles and amphibians in the necessary chapters. It requires more photographs and better taxonomic organization for clarity.
Educational.......2005-02-22
This book covers everything from the basics of herps, to the more advance steps in classification, breeding, and observing. In the most case this book is not a good reference guide for those with a minor understanding of the biology of reptiles, however, for those who know the basics, and are interested enough to continue their learning experiance on an advnaced level, this book is a must. Used in colleges as college text, anyone in the herpetological field in college needs this book!
Great Book.......2001-03-25
This book is for expierienced herpers only .It has almost evrything you need to know.If you are interested in learning more about herps.I give this a 5 if you are a expiereienced reader.
Book Description
From the familiar painted turtle basking on a log to the majestic long-lived giant tortoises, turtles are among the most fascinating animals on the planet. For many years Franck Bonin, Bernard Devaux, and Alain Dupré have traveled the world together to study turtles in their natural habitats. In this complete guide to the world's nearly 300 species of turtles, the authors reveal intimate, little-known details of these intriguing reptiles in their native habitats: what they eat, where they live, how they behave, and when and where they lay their eggs.
Originally written in French, the text has been translated by one of the world's leading turtle experts, Peter C. H. Pritchard. The result is a beautifully written and illustrated book that belongs on the shelf of every library, public and private. Written for the millions of turtle lovers and nature enthusiasts who will find answers to their questions within its pages, this book is bound to become the standard reference for years to come.
Customer Reviews:
Turtle of the World.......2007-07-12
I highly recommend it a must-have reference for all people serious about turtles. It is up-to-date with the most recent taxonomy.
Key to any serious turtle researcher........2007-05-17
College-level holdings, many an aquarium shop, and any serious natural history collection must have TURTLES OF THE WORLD. It's a definitive survey originally written in French and translated by a leading turtle expert, Peter C.H. Pritchard. Nearly 300 species of world turtles are covered including their habitats, lifestyle, and maps and photos. Co-written by a veterinarian expert with turtles, a nonprofit turtle research foundation and an avid conservationist, TURTLES OF THE WORLD's color photos pack every page and its information is well-rounded and key to any serious turtle researcher.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Turtles of the World: a companion book for turtle fanciers.......2007-02-27
Turtles of the World by Frank Bonin, Bernard Devaux, and Alain Dupre was originally published in French in 1996 and was followed by two editions. Peter Pritchard, a well-known turtle biologist and conservationist, translated the third edition into English for Johns Hopkins University Press. The hardback book is printed on coated paper and bound well for moderate use. It is more of a reference book than something one would carry in the field. In general, Turtles of the World is a good reference to all known species of turtles.
The front matter takes up 9 pages and covers general biology, paleontology, anatomy, physiology, behavior, and conservation. None of these sections is thorough, so readers should find other sources for in-depth information on these subjects. Each section to follow contains short species accounts that includes distribution, description, natural history, and protection. The distribution maps are shaded portions of continents showing country and major river outlines. One to two color photographs accompany each account. The maps are only generalizations and should not be considered accurate. The photos are attractive but provide only one or two views that may or may not be useful for identification because of the variation in color and pattern commonly exhibited by turtles. Some photos are much better than others.
Turtle taxonomy is in a state of flux. Name changes are published yearly due to our increasingly better understanding of relationships and geneaology. Some of the names in this book are stable but others; some are outdated. Kinosternon odoratum on page 173, for example, was used only temporarily in the scientific literature, as the long-standing name Sternotherus odoratus has remained otherwise stable for over a century. Nowhere in the species account is the more commonly used name mentioned. Thus, the names in this book should be checked against other, more scientific sources. Note that only scientific names are used in the book. Common names are not provided except in some accounts where they are deep in the text. The scientific names are followed by the authority, the name or names of the person or persons who provided the scientific name used here and the year in which that name was published. Readers unfamiliar with taxonomy will wonder why some of these names are in parentheses and others not. Nowhere in the book is that explained. Those in parentheses signify that the scientific name was originally placed in another genus by the authority, but that later changes put the species name in a different genus. Note here that a species name consists of two words: a genus and a species combined. The species name must always be accompanied by the generic name.
This book gives short shrift to the extreme plight turtles face around the world. They are declining at an alarming rate, especially in southeast Asia where nearly all species are threatened with immenent full-blown extinction. Why? Two reasons: consumption of turtles in China and other oriential markets, and loss of habitat. Readers should search for other sources to learn about the problems and efforts being made by people who love turtles to keep species from declining further.
Turtles of the World is a book that all turtle hobbyists and many professionals will want on their bookshelves for reference and comparative photographs. It should be used in conjunction with other books on turtle biology and identification. Peter Pritchard should be thanked for making this book available to the English audience.
Good reference, but doesn't replace previous works........2007-01-29
Bonin, Devaux, and Dupre's book takes on a big challenge in cataloguing world turtle diversity and will serve well as an impressive addition.
The introduction is 9 pages and concise. Phylogenetic history, a couple of ancestral species, anatomy, senses, metabolism, behavior, and threats are summarized in prose oscillating between introductory and expert. The rest of the book is comprised of species accounts.
Pictures in this book are better used for fun than identification. The picture of savannah sidenecks (Podocnemis vogli) is awesome. Quite a few species are not pictured and subspecies/ regional variations are not visually comparable. There is not consistency in shot angles for practical comparison between species. Some species are pictured only as hatchlings, some are depicted only by a close zoom on the head, and at least two species appear to have their photographs switched. Picture captions don't include species' names, which may cause confusion. This book's visuals could be aided by Vetter's pictorial "Turtles of the World" multi-volume Terralog series.
Range maps are blobbed in. The map outlines are crude, and range outlines do not respect watersheds or other important distributional boundaries. A general idea of where species occur can be drawn.
Species' Description's are good, although no dichotomous keys are provided. The Natural History section for many species is shorter than current information necessitates, while for some (especially some tortoise species and the marine turtles) this section is disproportionately long. Details on reproduction (laying season, egg size, etc.) are given for some species, but absent from many for which information is available. The Protection section is very inconsistent between species. For some, IUCN and CITES information is included, while for others, it's left out. National protection status is discussed for turtles of France and French Guyana, but absent for virtually every other nation's turtle fauna.
There are virtually no citations throughout the book even though it's written in relatively diagnostic lingo. The bibliography is very short (page and a half) for the amount of information included, and information from the authors' experiences should have been noted where appropriate.
The French-to-English translation must be well done, because the book reads very cleanly, especially for a semi-technical reference. The book's construct is just like a textbook; cover, paper and print should survive many years of steady use.
This reference is not a replacement for the previous "Turtles of the World" by Ernst and Barbour (1989) or "Encyclopedia of Turtles" by Pritchard (1979), but it will serve well in the possession of anyone with an interest in turtle diversity. It may well do a stronger job than both previous works in sparking interest from future turtle enthusiasts through its more accessible nature.
Excellent new reference work.......2007-01-10
This is an indispensable book for any ardent turtle lover or biologist. It updates and improves on the standard works of the past, such as Peter Pritchard's much-quoted Encyclopedia of Turtles. This latest and most up-to-date encyclopedia, originally written in French, has been translated into English by the same Dr. Pritchard, one of the world's foremost turtle experts, and contains every single turtle species still in existance, about half of which will be completely new to most people with an interest in these animals.
The book focuses on the lives of these animals in the wild, so people wanting to read about keeping turtles in captivity will not find answers to their questions here. The work contains a wealth of color photos, geographical maps and preservation statuses for all species. As all species had to fit into one volume, some are not described in as much detail as others, but as these are mainly subspecies, this is a minor quibble.
Warmly recommended.
Book Description
Learn to maximize tilapia production in different areas around the world
Tilapia is the second-most cultured fish species in the world, and its production is increasing each year. However, for several reasons profit margins remain slim. Tilapia: Biology, Culture, and Nutrition presents respected international experts detailing every aspect of tilapia production around the world. Biology, breeding and larval rearing, farming techniques, feeding issues, post-harvest technology, and industry economics are clearly presented. This concise yet extensive reference provides the latest research and practical information to efficiently and economically maximize production in diverse locales, conditions, and climates.
Tilapia: Biology, Culture, and Nutrition comprehensively explores all types of tilapia with a detailed biologic description of the fish that takes readers from egg through harvesting. The book authoritatively discusses production issues such as feed nutrition, temperature, water quality, parasites, and disease control to guide readers on how to best encourage fast, efficient growth. Economic and marketing information are examined, including industry data and projections by country. Each chapter approaches a specific facet of tilapia and provides the most up-to-date research available in that area. This resource gives the most current, detailed information needed for effective tilapia farming in one compact economical volume. Extensively referenced with an abundance of clear, helpful tables, photographs, and figures.
Tilapia: Biology, Culture, and Nutrition discusses in detail:
complete biology, including sex ratios, optimum temperatures for growth and spawning, water quality parameters, and disease tolerance
industry predictions
hormonal control of growth
genetic improvement
sex determination, manipulation, and control
seed production
culture practices
earthen and lined pond production
culture in flowing water
cage culture
feed formulation and processing, and feeding management
soil, water, and effluent quality
saline tolerance levels with optimum rate of acclimation to seawater
polyculture of tilapia with shrimp
bottom soil conditions
nutrient requirements with non-nutrient components
parasites and diseases
Tilapia: Biology, Culture, and Nutrition is essential reading for aquaculturists, nutritionists, geneticists, hatchery managers, feed formulators, feed mill operators, extension specialists, tilapia growers, fish farmers/producers, educators, disease specialists, aquaculture veterinarians, policy makers, educators, and students.
Average customer rating:
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Biology and Conservation of Ridley Sea Turtles
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior, and Conservation
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Voyage of the Turtle: In Pursuit of the Earth's Last Dinosaur
ASIN: 0801886112 |
Book Description
The smallest of the sea turtles, olive and Kemp's ridleys are the only marine turtles to exhibit mass-nesting behavior, known as arribadas. This fascinating phenomenon, during which one could literally walk shell-to-shell across a beach, is considered one of the most amazing wonders of nature.
In Biology and Conservation of Ridley Sea Turtles, Pamela T. Plotkin brings together the world's experts on the genus Lepidochelys to present the first comprehensive, book-length examination of these fascinating animals. Featuring the writings of noted experts including Peter C. H. Pritchard, Jack Frazier, Rene Márquez-M., and Donna J. Shaver, the volume synthesizes over a half century of research. With chapters focused on evolution, development, genetics, physiology, reproduction, migration, and conservation, this book combines a wealth of knowledge and describes an agenda for further research.
An integral part of oceanic ecosystems, ridleys present challenges for conservation. Olive ridleys are abundant in some areas and declining in others, whereas Kemp's ridleys are endangered but slowly recovering. Both face beach-based threats and are prone to capture by commercial fisheries. Here Plotkin and her colleagues reveal the nature of these species and the steps needed to make sure they remain a permanent part of the marine environment.
Book Description
The success of the first volume of The Biology of Sea Turtles revealed a need for broad but comprehensive reviews of major recent advances in sea turtle biology. Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume II emphasizes aspects of biology that relate to sea turtle management and to changes in marine and coastal ecosystems. These topics include the interactions of humans and sea turtles, an introduction to sea turtle anatomy, sensory and reproductive biology, sea turtle habitat use and ecology, stress and health, and the maintenance of captured animals. This volume provides more than 1,500 references to serve as entry points for future research. According to N. Mrosovsky, writing in Nature (Vol 423, 15 May 2003), "When the first volume of The Biology of Sea Turtles appeared in 1997, it enjoyed considerable success and was frequently cited....The Biology of Sea Turtles is one of the best places to start... both volumes may be recommended to libraries and individuals." -
Customer Reviews:
Essential Reference on Marine Turtle Biology.......2000-11-18
A complete up-to-date review of marine turtle biology featuring contributions from 22 of the world's foremost sea turtle authorities. Such well known reearchers as Pritchard, Bjorndal, Lutz, Musick, and Limpus provide comprehensive coverage of a wide range of relevant topics including sea turtle evolution, phylogeny, current conservation status, reproduction, orientation and navigation, habitat utilization and migration, health problems and diseases, human impacts and much, much more. Also included are 8 color and 14 b/w photos, several b/w line illustrations, numerous graphs and tables, and multiple bibliographies. Truly a "Must Have Volume" for every marine turtle library.
Product Description
Pritchard's monograph on the alligator snapping turtle, one of the world's most impressive, dangerous, and celebrated turtles, was first published in 1989. The initial small print run quickley sold out and has become a valuable rare book. This reprint edition duplicates the text of the original, but also includes a major new section outlining progress that has been made on the science and conservation of this species in the last 17 years.
Customer Reviews:
An indispensable addition.......2006-10-04
Originally published in 1989 and out of print for several years, the Krieger Publishing Company's new reprint of zoologist Peter Pritchard's classic monograph, "The Alligator Snapping Turtle: Biology And Conservation", is an informed and informative introduction to one of nature's most impressive, dangerous, and famous of the turtle species. This new edition of "The Alligator Snapping Turtle" is enhanced with a major new section detailing the zoological progress made on the science and conservation of this species over the last seventeen years and is therefore a fully up-to-date, profusely illustrated treatise that includes the Snapping Turtle's geographic distribution, diet, reproduction cycle, natural history, exploitation and captivity, population status and trends, and so much more. With the addition of a comprehensive Index, a list of supplemental material, Reviews and Responses, Protection and Legislation, and more, "The Alligator Snapping Turtle" is an indispensable addition to professional and academic library Biology and Natural Science reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading list of turtle enthusiasts and wildlife conservationists in particular.
Book Description
This is the widely acclaimed, preeminent reference and text on all aspects of amphibian biology, including their life history, ecology, morphology, and evolution. Copiously illustrated with original drawings and photographs and meticulously referenced with more than 2,500 bibliographic entries, it has proved indispensable to professional biologists and students alike. Now reissued in paperback with an updated preface by the authors, Biology of Amphibians remains the standard work in its field.
Customer Reviews:
Amphibian overview.......2000-11-26
This reference provides a solid overview of amphibians, and has long been used as a university textbook on the subject. While other references are more suitable for amphibian neuroanatomy, this reference provides a rich description of amphibian reproductive behavior, development from egg to larvae to metamorphosis, ecology and evolution, as well as a chapter on the musculoskeletal system and another on other anatomical/physiological aspects of amphibians.
Biology of Amphibians.......2000-05-31
As a herpetologist, I find this book very complete and still up to date. The contents are well chosen and include every single aspect of their biology. The authors succeeded in making a extremely well chosen summary of the complex biology of the Amphibians.
Book Description
From tiny to gigantic, from drab to remarkably beautiful, from harmless to venomous, lizards are spectacular products of natural selection. This book, lavishly illustrated with color photographs, is the first comprehensive reference on lizards around the world. Accessible, scientifically up-to-date, and written with contagious enthusiasm for the subject, Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity covers species evolution, diversity, ecology, and biology. Eric R. Pianka and Laurie J. Vitt have studied and photographed members of almost all lizard families worldwide, and they bring to the book a deep knowledge based on extensive firsthand experience with the animals in their natural habitats.
Part One explores lizard lifestyles, answering such questions as why lizards are active when they are, why they behave as they do, how they avoid predators, why they eat what they eat, and how they reproduce and socialize. In Part Two the authors take us on a fascinating tour of the world's manifold lizard species, beginning with iguanians, an evolutionary group that includes some of the most bizarre lizards, the true chameleons of Africa and Madagascar. We also meet the glass lizard, able to break its tail into many highly motile pieces to distract a predator from its body; lizards that can run across water; and limbless lizards, such as snakes. Part Three gives an unprecedented global view of evolutionary trends that have shaped present-day lizard communities and considers the impact of humans on their future.
A definitive resource containing many entertaining anecdotes, this magnificent book opens a new window to the natural world and the evolution of life on earth.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderfully comprehensive overview of an amazing group.......2005-02-16
Without a doubt, this book is the most comprehensive overview of lizard evolution and ecology, available on the market today. Pianka & Vitt take readers on a tour through the many aspects of the lacertilian suborder. In the process, they show one how incredibly useful lizards have been for science.
The book is broken up into three sections. The first section gives an overview of lizards in general. It goes over the basic anatomy, and the distinct differences between the three main lizard groups (Iguania, Gekkota & Autarchoglossa). The second section goes more in depth about each major group. It gives a breakdown of all the major families, and even goes so far as to explain the different genera in each. The final section takes the reader through a brief history of the squamata. It explains their evolution throughout the Mesozoic, and ending with a chapter on relationship of lizards with people.
The appendix, at the end, gives a taxonomic summary of all the lizard genera known for each family; along with a total species count. While this is already a bit out of date (sad fate for all published material dealing with taxonomy), it is a nice addition.
The chapter on lizards and humans, has a nice section talking about lizards as pets. In the past, herpetologists have often frowned on the keeping of lizards as pets. Pianka & Vitt considered doing the same. Yet, as they mention: "We would be hypocrites if we did." They realize that most up and coming (and many professional) herpetologists/paleontologists, keep/kept lizards as pets. Herpetoculture is here to stay. As such, it makes more sense to learn the most one can about the animal they intend to keep. Reading words of acceptance from those in the field, is always an encouraging thing to see.
Of course, not everything about the book is perfect. I did have some minor gripes with it.
For starters, I took minor issue with the treatment of the three main lizard groups. In particular, the treatment of Iguanians compared to the scleroglossans. The scleroglossan lizards are often exalted above the iguanians, at the latter's expense. I can understand Pianka & Vitt's reasoning behind this. Scleroglossa make up the majority of living lacertilians, yet remain the least studied group of lizards out there. In that sense, I can't blame the authors for wanting to put more emphasis on this group. I just wish that it didn't appear to be at the expense of the iguanians. It's not done all that often, and it's never intentional, but every once in a while, a comment is made on the archaic nature of iguanians that tends to make them out as sounding inferior.
A neat thing about the second part of the book, is that Pianka & Vitt do explain the meaning behind many of the genus names. Unfortunately, they don't do it for all of them. This wouldn't be so troublesome if it didn't happen so randomly. For instance, in the beginning of the agamid descriptions, a definition for each genus name is given. Yet at, roughly, the last third of the section, the definitions just stop. It remains this way until well into Iguanidae (a quick blurb at Leiocephalinae) before disappearing again. Gekkotans get a brief, but acute, set of definitions (done as an example of how many are named after their toes), with some other definitions sprinkled in throughout the rest of the chapter. It continues like this throughout the rest of this section. As such, it leaves readers such as myself (who enjoy the meanings behind the names) left wanting more.
Finally, the last real gripe I have about the book is in respect to the trend, in recent years, to apply cladistic methods to classification. Throughout the book, mentions are made on the monophyly of one group vs. the paraphyly of another. That in itself, is not bad, but when it interferes with classification, it becomes an annoyance. One area in particular, is the way in which snakes are handled. The group, itself, is descended from a lizard ancestor. Yet, snakes are still classified as a separate collection of squamates; which is fine (the same happens with mammals and therapsids, among other examples). My problem with the book, is that the authors feel this need to mention how "snakes are lizards too." It's pounded into one's head at the beginning, and towards the end of the book. Yet, the snakes themselves, are hardly ever mentioned. There is no section of the various families of snakes out there. Nor any real mention of their various life histories. So, I'm left wondering: Why bother mentioning the "snakes are lizards too" bit? If one is going to insist of abiding by the cladistic paradigm in classification, then one should follow through with it.
With that said, please keep in mind that I do consider all of these to be minor gripes. The book is still a must read for anyone with more than just a passing interest in this amazing group of animals, and the author's chilling take on the status of our planet (last section of the final chapter) is another must read for any young biologist, preparing to enter the field.
Highly recommended.
Pianka and Vitt's "Lizards" a remarkable contribution.......2004-02-26
This book is truly amazing! As a scientist, I have read hundreds of works, but never have I encountered a better combination of scientific rigor coupled with what one might call, popular appeal. The authors have basically provided the contribution of record on lizard biology, while simulataneously producing one of the most interesting coffee table "thumb-throughs" that one could imagine. First the biological rigor. Pianka and Vitt break the book into three sections, very appropriately I believe, beginning with lizard behavior--evolution, life history, context. These seven chapters lead naturally to a second section, six chapters devoted to lizard diversity. Not anatomical or taxonomical hell at all, but brilliantly protrayed, ecologically situated depiction of form and function, from iguanas to dragons. The third section ties together the ethology, the diversity of genera, as a well articulated synthesis. In so doing in this concluding synthesis, the authors have managed to write a tutorial that is extremely valuable as a stand alone study plan for teaching evolution and biology to students of just about any level of sophistication. Yes, the book provides comprehensive documentation, references, and taxonomic details--it is a remarkable scientific work. But it is one that can't be put down--the authors even share their personal histories of interest, and they embed numberous "so what? boxes". I found the professional quality photo's to merit review themselves as a contribution to photography. In fact, after walking through the habitat-borne illustrations, I felt that I had spent an eye-opening day with these creatures. "Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity" is a must for biologists, and a gotta have for anyone interested in creatures. Harry Greene's foreward claim that the book is "a survey of unprecedented depth and breadth" is classic understatement.
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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