Zoology: amphibians and reptiles (herpetology) Books

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisCovering the prominent 150 reptiles and 80 amphibians found in theregion (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi), with concisetext, photograph and map for each, this is a pocket guide for a diverseand often conspicuous and attractive group of animals.Trade Review"Portable, user-friendly and relatively inexpensive, Pocket Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa is an indispensable field companion for anyone who may be interested in learning more about East Africa's herpetofauna." SWARA (April-June 2006) "...this invaluable book will doubtless also spawn exciting new discoveries." SWARA (April-June 2006) "For anyone with a general interest in wildlife, a comprehensible, portable, and fairly comprehensive field guide is a must. This pocket guide fulfils these criteria." Scottish Bird News (September 2006)

Read more less

Book SynopsisSouth Africa has an inordinate wealth of plants and animals. It is a country of superlatives with an entire floral kingdom occurring within its borders. With a land surface area of only 2 per cent of the global landmass, it contains 10 per cent of the world's plants and between 6 and 7 per cent of the world's mammals, birds and reptiles. Not only does South Africa boast the greatest number of species of land tortoises of any place on Earth, it ranks fifth in the world with regard to overall number of reptile species. Such an array of reptiles, which at last count numbered 363 species, with more being described annually, shows an incredible range of adaptations enabling these remarkable creatures to live in extremes of climate from the high mountains to desert, from coast to coast and some even adapting to an urban environment. Despite this, the daily lives of most reptile species remain a closed book. Many species are cryptic, preferring not to be seen, while others display amongst the brightest colours in the animal kingdom. They range from very small species weighing less than a gram to the giant Nile crocodile, which may achieve a mass of 1 000 kg, and include some of the most poisonous species on the planet. It is indeed a treasure house. Remarkable Reptiles offers a glimpse into the fascinating world of snakes, lizards, chameleons, tortoises, terrapins and crocodiles and hopes to provide a greater insight into the behaviour of these often maligned animals. Many reptiles, especially snakes, receive unjust treatment because of attacks on humans, while anthropogenic causes, which are far more lethal, tend to be less emphasised. Hopefully this book will contribute to, and instil respect and interest in the remarkable diversity of reptiles with which South Africa has been blessed.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A compelling historical–philosophical account of the epistemology of experimentation in the life sciences from the late seventeenth to the mid-twentieth century. . . . the category of 'methods discourse' introduces a useful and nuanced dimension of analysis for the history of experimental life science. In developing a taxonomy of different levels on which this discourse operates, Schickore lays the groundwork for further exploration of methods sections as historical sources . . . . There is exciting work to be done in linking analyses of methods discourse to studies of method-making: material histories of instruments, model organisms, and experimental systems. As Schickore's book demonstrates, methods do not stand still." * Journal of the History of Biology *"[A] magnificent book on the history of experimental methods . . . . About Method is philosophically motivated history of science at its best. Schickore’s philosophical acumen shines through the book and her meticulous historical reconstructions provide an impressive account of the development of snake venom research, over a very wide geographical and chronological span. This is a first-rate contribution to a much needed long-term history of experimentation." * Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte *"Following The Microscope and the Eye, Schickore presents her second monograph, a lively and stylish contribution to the history and philosophy of experiment. Along similar lines, recent efforts such as Steinle’s Exploratory Experiments and Franklin’s What Makes a Good Experiment? reflect the dynamism of this research area. The book under review traces over 300 years of experiments with snake venom. In addition to examining how scientists conducted experiments, Schickore parses how these individuals communicated their procedures to other researchers—a pivotal but often overlooked element of scientific life. The focus on the rhetoric of experimental method permits a series of clear and incisive comments on how the scientific community—as it grew into a profession—established, enforced, and renegotiated its standards for experimental practice. Schickore serves up lucid prose while nimbly balancing several layers of argument. Although it will be most valuable to those with some field-specific preparation, the book serves as an effective tool for introducing graduate students or advanced undergraduates to major issues in the field, as well as for motivating expansions and responses from practicing researchers. Highly recommended." * Choice *“About Method seeks to rescue methodology from Feyerabend’s more radical views by showing that, while scientific methodologies change, they play a crucial role in directing the practice of science. Her examples are informative and are firmly grounded in their historical contexts.” * Times Higher Education *"Jutta Schickore's About Method . . . has the potential to change our conception of scientists’ methodological statements drastically. . . . . Schickore recovers scientific methodology as a topic of interest and breaks fresh ground in several ways. . . . About Method puts methods discourse back on the agenda and provides a framework that will be helpful to all historians and philosophers interested in the practical and experimental aspects of science." * Isis: A Journal of the History of Science Society *"A book that quietly challenges whatever hopes we might have for finding the one true scientific method, while loudly showing us how intricate and creative diverse experimental methodologies have always been. . . . Schickore provides an invaluable tool for researchers and students of history and philosophy of science . . . . About Method is a wonderful example of long-term microhistories having a long-lasting philosophical payoff—including an increasing acceptance that we might never actually reach our supposedly beloved scientific method, because the experimental situations are forever too complex to be completely controlled." * HOPOS: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science *"It surveys a three-century span not to tell a comprehensive history of venom research, but to intricately contextualise the shifting ways in which modern scientists have committed publicly and procedurally to experimental method. The focus on Atlantic world investigators necessarily side-lines scholarship on venom research in Asia, India, Australia and Africa, while Schickore’s engagement with the ethics and heuristics of vivisection is restrained rather than foregrounded. The book also treads a fine analytical line between the elaborate specifics of laboratory praxis and the literary technologies and witnessing procedures articulated by Steven Shapin and Simon Schaffer in their seminal work . Yet, written in a pleasant and at times jocular style, Schickore’s text sustains an intellectual rigour and precision throughout. In asking fundamental questions about what experimenters believed they were doing, its interpretive value for scholars across the biomedical and human sciences is undoubted." * History of the Human Sciences *"Excellent . . . . A very welcome addition to the recent literature on the history and philosophy of experiment." * Metascience *“Schickore entices us to be interested in snake venom and then shows how researchers worked their way to answers that made sense in their different circumstances. The process of uncovering what made snake venom poisonous did not follow a straight line that culminates in our superior knowledge today. She follows the complex steps forward, sideways, and sometimes backward to show how scientific understanding emerged and evolved within the complex contexts of the time. Whether about Fontana, Weir Mitchell, or recent protein studies, Schickore’s discussions ring true to her sources while also drawing out larger lessons from history and discussion of methodological and epistemological approaches to the fascinating nature of snake bites.” * Jane Maienschein, Arizona State University *“Who would have thought that a book on the history of snake venom research could yield so many interesting and important insights? One of Schickore’s great strengths is her nose for good problems and for sources relevant to them. She has an uncanny ability to probe the seemingly barren landscape of neglected developments and minor historical figures—and to find gold. Her new book adds much evidence to the claim that the detailed epistemology of modern science has arisen out of scientific work itself, in the various disciplines, rather than from grand methodological theories such as inductivism. No one has done more than Schickore to demonstrate the value of an integrated history and philosophy of science.” * Thomas Nickles, emeritus, University of Nevada, Reno *“Following The Microscope and the Eye, Schickore has produced another sophisticated treatise giving a fully historicized view of scientific knowledge and scientific methodology as dynamically evolving entities. She weaves together history, philosophy, and science into a coherent and pleasing tapestry. Her choice of subject matter in About Method is itself a testament to her sharp eye for a phase of the history of science that reveals easily overlooked aspects of practice and effectively exposes the blind spots in standard philosophical discourse. Under her deft treatment, the long and complicated history of research on snake venom emerges not only as a fascinating episode in its own right but also as a rich source of insights for a new general framework for philosophical thinking on scientific methodology. Schickore’s historical reflections also have plenty of pertinence to current methodological debates in science, such as the ongoing ‘replication crisis’ in biology and psychology.” * Hasok Chang, University of Cambridge *Table of ContentsIntroduction: “A matter so obscure, so difficult, and likewise so new . . .” Chapter 1. Argument, Narrative, and Methods Discourse Chapter 2. Many, Many Experiments Chapter 3. Trying Again Chapter 4. Newtonian Poison: A Mechanical Account of Viper Venom Chapter 5. Experiment as the Only Guide Chapter 6. Thousands of Experiments Chapter 7. Practical Criticisms Chapter 8. Controlling Experiment Chapter 9. Unobservables Chapter 10. Fragmentation and Modularity: Notes on Crotoxin Conclusion: About MethodsAcknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisRecent fossil discoveries prove dinosaurs didn’t die out after al--instead, they turned into birds, opening up thrilling new possibilities in our knowledge of the prehistoric world.Trade ReviewIn Flying Dinosaurs John Pickrell challenges everything you were told about dinosaurs as a child... Through extensive research and interviews with leading paleontologists, Flying Dinosaurs charts how each new discovery confirmed the link between dinosaurs and birds... The author's fascination with dinosaurs is evident throughout the book. But his passion aside, it takes a skilled science writer to transform the incremental progress of a field such as paleontology into a narrative that sustains a book. -- Nicky Phillips The Sydney Morning Herald After digesting all that Pickrell has to offer, it will be difficult for any reader to think about dinosaurs -- or birds -- in the same ways they had before. Publishers Weekly [An] engaging book. GrrlScientist - a Guardian Blog A remarkable book, with a wealth of interviews with palaeontologists and a comprehensive catalogue of virtually all the findings of feathered dinosaurs since 1996. It's a useful catch-up if you have lost track of this rapidly developing area of palaentology, and full of fascinating, unusual facts-did you know that birds are the closest living relatives to the crocodile? -- Bill Condie Cosmos Magazine [Flying Dinosaurs] deftly covers the history behind the decades-old debate over just when and how birds first arose. -- Bruce Dorminey Forbes Pickrell covers the history of changing thought on dinosaurs and the bird-dinosaur link... Pickrell's book is well written and accessible, and thus is an excellent companion. -- Greg Laden Greg Laden's Blog A detailed and timely overview of our rapidly-improving scientific understanding of how massive, lumbering dinosaurs evolved into agile, flying birds. -- Mike Lee The Conversation A readable introduction to the subject. -- Ian Paulsen The Bridbooker Report [A] fast-paced... Fascinating read. BirdWatching A well-structured overview of the various lines of evidence connecting the evolution of birds with that of theropod dinosaurs... Any general reader or student interested in dinosaurs should find it a pleasure to read... Highly recommended. Choice An exceptional read... I would recommend this volume not only to dinosaur aficionados, who will find in its pages a plethora of interesting facts about dinosaurs and birds, but also to professional paleontologists who are looking for a comprehensive yet quick account on the most recent research in dinosaur paleontology. -- Marco Signore Quarterly Review of Biology Delightful and accessible. I highly recommend it for readers of all ages and backgrounds. ZME ScienceTable of ContentsForeword, by Philip Currie Preface Introduction: A whole new world Before we begin 1. The missing link 2. A feathered revolution begins 3. The dinosaur hunters 4. From dinosaur to bird 5. Fake fossils 6. The evolution of feathers 7. The struggle to the skies 8. Sex for T. rex 9. Colouring in the dinosaurs 10. Back from the dead 11. The survival game Relationships of the theropod dinosaurs An A-Z of feathered dinosaurs References Glossary Select bibliography Acknowledgments Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAmphibians and reptiles represent an essential and interesting component of Wisconsin’s wildlife. This state-of-the-field synthesis includes hundreds of colour photographs and illustrations, state-level and North American range maps, dichotomous keys, and research and conservation anecdotes to entertain and inform.Table of Contents Foreword by Michael J. Lannoo Acknowledgments Contributors Acronyms and Abbreviations Introduction Systematics and Classification Some Prominent Figures in Wisconsin Herpetology Past, Present, and Potential Future Landscapes of Wisconsin, with Emphasis on Amphibian and Reptile Distributions Amphibians and Reptiles in Wisconsin Plant Communities Introduction to Conservation and Management of Wisconsin’s Amphibians and Reptiles Identification Keys for Amphibians and Reptiles in Wisconsin Introduction to Species Accounts Anura (Frogs and Toads) Introduction to Anura Family Bufonidae American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus Family Hylidae Blanchard’s Cricket Frog, Acris blanchardi Cope’s Gray Treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis Gray Treefrog, Hyla versicolor Spring Peeper, Pseudacris crucifer Boreal Chorus Frog, Pseudacris maculata Family Ranidae American Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus Green Frog, Lithobates clamitans Pickerel Frog, Lithobates palustris Northern Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens Mink Frog, Lithobates septentrionalis Wood Frog, Lithobates sylvaticus Caudata (Salamanders) Introduction to Caudata Family Ambystomatidae Blue-spotted Salamander, Ambystoma laterale Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum Eastern Tiger Salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum Family Plethodontidae Four-toed Salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus Family Proteidae Mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus Family Salamandridae Eastern Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens Squamata (Lizards and Snakes) Introduction to Squamata Family Anguidae Slender Glass Lizard, Ophisaurus attenuatus Family Scincidae Common Five-lined Skink, Plestiodon fasciatus Prairie Skink, Plestiodon septentrionalis Family Teiidae Six-lined Racerunner, Aspidoscelis sexlineatus Family Colubridae, Subfamily Colubrinae North American Racer, Coluber constrictor Eastern Milksnake, Lampropeltis triangulum Smooth Greensnake, Opheodrys vernalis Gray Ratsnake, Pantherophis spiloides Eastern Foxsnake, Pantherophis vulpinus Gophersnake, Pituophis catenifer Family Colubridae, Subfamily Dipsadinae Western Wormsnake, Carphophis vermis Ring-necked Snake, Diadophis punctatus Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Heterodon platirhinos Family Colubridae, Subfamily Natricinae Common Watersnake, Nerodia sipedon Queensnake, Regina septemvittata Dekay’s Brownsnake, Storeria dekayi Red-bellied Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata Butler’s Gartersnake, Thamnophis butleri Plains Gartersnake, Thamnophis radix Eastern Ribbonsnake, Thamnophis saurita, Western Ribbonsnake, Thamnophis proximus Common Gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis Lined Snake, Tropidoclonion lineatum Family Viperidae Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus Massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus Snakebite: Envenomation in Wisconsin and the Northern Upper Mississippi River Valley Testudines (Turtles) Introduction to Testudines Family Chelydridae Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina Family Emydidae Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta Blanding’s Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii Wood Turtle, Glyptemys insculpta Northern Map Turtle, Graptemys geographica Ouachita Map Turtle, Graptemys ouachitensis False Map Turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica Ornate Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata Family Kinosternidae Eastern Musk Turtle, Sternotherus odoratus Family Trionychidae Smooth Softshell, Apalone mutica Spiny Softshell, Apalone spinifera Hypothetical and Enigmatic Species of Wisconsin Appendix Glossary Literature Cited Contributor Biographies Index by Scientific Name Index by Common Name Index by Subject

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book focuses on the first vertebrates to conquer land and their long journey to become fully independent from the water. It traces the origin of tetrapod features and tries to explain how and why they transformed into organs that permit life on land.Trade Review“Amphibian Evolution delivers a wide-ranging synthesis of viewpoints and data on early tetrapods and the ancestry of lissamphibians. This conveniently sized volume suits a higher-level undergraduate course on palaeobiology or introductory graduate class. Clearly written and illustrated, the text provides just enough historical context to give a sense of where the topics come from and where new developments seem to be heading… In summary, this is a thoroughly useful volume to have on your shelf (as well as recommending several copies for the college library).” (Acta Zoologica, July 2017)“In summary, this is a comprehensive work that could be used as a guide to focus on specific aspects of one of the most exciting chapters of vertebrate history.” (Ameghiniana, 1 April 2015) “It provides rewarding reading, useful for students and researchers/professionals studying amphibians as well as other vertebrates. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.” (Choice, 1 December 2014) Table of ContentsPreface viii Acknowledgments x 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Changing paradigms in amphibian evolution 3 1.2 Paleobiology: data, methods, and time scales 5 1.3 Concepts and metaphors: how scientists “figure out” problems 7 1.4 Characters and phylogenies 8 1.5 What’s in a name? 8 References 11 2 The Amphibian World: Now and Then 13 2.1 Tetrapoda 14 2.1.1 The tetrapod skeleton 14 2.1.2 Tetrapod characters 23 2.1.3 Stem-tetrapods (Tetrapodomorpha) 25 2.1.4 Carboniferous tetrapods or tetrapodomorphs? 31 2.2 The amniote stem-group 32 2.2.1 Anthracosauria 33 2.2.2 Seymouriamorpha 37 2.2.3 Chroniosuchia 38 2.2.4 Lepospondyli 40 2.2.4.1 Lepospondyl characters 42 2.2.4.2 Microsauria 42 2.2.4.3 Lysorophia 44 2.2.4.4 Nectridea 44 2.2.4.5 Aïstopoda 45 2.2.4.6 Adelospondyli 46 2.2.4.7 Acherontiscidae 46 2.2.5 Gephyrostegida 46 2.2.6 Amniota 47 2.2.6.1 Stem-amniotes and early crown amniotes 48 2.3 The lissamphibian stem-group (Temnospondyli) 48 2.3.1 Edopoidea 51 2.3.2 Dendrerpeton and Balanerpeton 53 2.3.3 Dvinosauria 54 2.3.4 Dissorophoidea and Zatracheidae 54 2.3.5 Eryopoidea 56 2.3.6 Stereospondyli 57 2.4 Albanerpetontidae 58 2.5 Lissamphibia 59 2.5.1 Lissamphibian characters 61 2.5.2 Batrachia 62 2.5.2.1 Anura (frogs and toads) 62 2.5.2.2 Caudata (salamanders) 67 2.5.2.3 Gymnophiona (caecilians) 68 References 70 3 Amphibian Life Through Time 81 3.1 Aquatic predators prepare for land 83 3.2 Hot springs, scorpions, and little creepers 83 3.3 Life in the tropical coal forest 85 3.4 Neotenes explore unfavorable waters 89 3.5 Lowlands, uplands, and a cave 90 3.6 Hide and protect: extreme life in the hothouse 94 3.7 Predators in deltas, lakes, and brackish swamps 97 3.8 Stereospondyls in refugia, lissamphibians on the rise 97 3.9 Batrachians diversify, stereospondyls disappear 100 3.10 Lissamphibians expand into diverse habitats 101 References 102 4 The Amphibian Soft Body 106 4.1 How to infer soft tissues in extinct taxa 107 4.2 Fossil evidence: soft tissue preservation 109 4.3 Head and visceral skeleton 110 4.4 Respiratory organs 113 4.5 Lateral lines, electroreception, and ears 118 References 122 5 Evolution of Functional Systems 126 5.1 How paradigms and brackets give a functional scenario 127 5.2 Feeding and breathing under water 131 5.3 Decoupling breathing and feeding 134 5.4 Hearing: exapting the spiracle and hyomandibula 136 5.5 Respiration in early tetrapods 141 5.6 The evolution of terrestrial feeding 143 5.7 Transforming fins into limbs 144 5.8 Locomotion in paleozoic tetrapods 146 References 148 6 Development and Evolution 152 6.1 Ontogeny in modern amphibians 153 6.2 Fossil ontogenies 158 6.3 Ontogeny as a sequence: developmental trajectories 163 6.4 Histology: the skeleton as archive 167 6.5 Changing shape: allometry 171 6.6 Heterochrony: the evolution of development 174 6.7 Body plans: gene regulation and morphogenesis 179 References 184 7 Paleoecology 191 7.1 Lissamphibian ecology 192 7.2 Paleoecology: problems and perspectives 193 7.3 Paleozoic and Mesozoic amphibians 196 7.4 Amphibian evolution as a walk through trophic levels 203 References 205 8 Life History Evolution 208 8.1 Plasticity, reaction norm, and canalization 209 8.2 Reaction norms in extant amphibians 210 8.3 The biphasic life cycle in lissamphibians 211 8.4 Seymouriamorphs: biphasic life cycles without metamorphosis 213 8.5 Temnospondyls: flexible uni- and biphasic ontogenies 213 8.6 Lepospondyls: dwarfism and uniphasic life cycles 215 8.7 The evolution of metamorphosis 216 8.8 The evolution of neoteny 216 8.9 General features of life history evolution 217 References 219 9 Phylogeny 222 9.1 Phylogeny of amphibians 223 9.2 The big picture: tetrapod diversification 223 9.3 The origin of lissamphibians 224 References 231 10 Macroevolution 234 10.1 What is macroevolution? 235 10.2 Patterns of early tetrapod evolution 235 10.3 Major factors of amphibian evolution 240 10.4 Clades, space, and time 248 10.5 Diversity, disparity, and extinction 249 10.6 The evolution of terrestriality 252 References 254 Index 260

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPublisher's Foreword Abridger's Note Introduction Purpose Sources of Information 1. Status Classification and Nomenclature A List of Rattlesnake Species and Subspecies Venomous Snakes in the United States Other than Rattlesnakes Confusion Regarding Rattlesnakes Distinguishing Venomous from Harmless Snakes The Use of Common Names 2. Morphology Length Body Proportions Bulk Head and Tail Dimensions Squamation Color and Pattern Freaks and Aberrants Two-Headed Snakes Defective Young Albinism Melanism Hybrids 3. The Rattle Function and Utilization The Function of the Rattle Conditions of Use Rattle Nomenclature The Character of the Sound Method of Vibration and the Production of Sound Speed of Vibration Formation and Length Chronology of Rattle Formation Rattle-String Length 4. Bodily Functions Life Persistence and Frailty Longevity Skin Shedding The Shedding Operation Effect of Shedding on Sight Water Requirements during Shedding The Season of Shedding Shedding Frequency Locomotion Horizontal Undulatory Progression Rectilinear Progression Sidewinding Concertina Progression Rattlesnake Speed Misunderstood Features of Crawling Snake-Tracks Senses Sight and the Eye Hearing The Tongue and Sense of Smell The Facial Pits Touch Distant Detection Aggregation and Sex Recognition Intelligence 5.Behavior Physiological Temperature Limitations Maximum Temperature Limits Minimum Temperature Limits Optimum Temperature Range Temporal Variations in Habits Seasonal Variations in Activity Effects of Reproductive Cycle on Seasonal Activity Denning Dates and the Risk of Immobility Rattlesnakes as Weather Indicators Summer Migrations and Estivation Effects of Humidity Diurnal Variations in Activity The Basking Range Other Temperature-Control Expedients Defensive and Warning Behavior Disposition and Temperament Protective Coloration and Concealment Flight Defensive Attacks Warning Mechanisms Mythical Defensive Actions Distinguishing the Resting from the Striking Coil The Strike Climbing Proclivities Swimming Ability How the Rattles are Held Actions in the Water Tales of Swimming Rattlesnakes Danger from Swimming Rattlesnakes 6. Populations and Ecology The Importance of Ecological Factors Ranges Range Limits Altitudinal Range Island Habitats Population Factors Population Densities Effect of Dens on Population Estimates Rarity of Particular Species Population Trends Proportion of Rattlesnakes in Snake Populations Composite Populations Hibernating Dens and Their Uses Physical Character of Dens Den Populations Persistence of Dens Spacing of Dens Life at the Dens Animals that Hibernate with Rattlesnakes Aggregation and Dispersal Advantages of Aggregation Summer Ranges and Territoriality Accidental Dispersal. Migration 7. Food Kinds of Food Mammals Birds and Eggs Reptiles Amphibians and Fishes Arthropods Vegetable and Mineral Foods Methods of Securing Prey Variability in the Effect of a Bite Differences in Dealing with Prey Constriction Method of Swallowing Disgorging Prey Fatal Meals Reactions of Prey Food Requirements Frequency of Feeding Multiple Meals Water Requirements Feeding Rattlesnakes in Captivity Effects of Conditions of Captivity Dead Food Methods of Feeding Frequency of Feeding Seasonal Effects Individual and Species Differences Reactions of Prey Long Fasts 8. Reproduction Sexual Characteristics Methods of Determining Sex- Tail-Length Differences Male Organs Sexual Activities Birth Traveling in Pairs The Male Combat "Dance" Courtship and Mating Pattern Young Rattlesnakes Congenital Defects Young per Brood Maternal Protection and Association Activities 9. Poison Apparatus The Biting Mechanism Venom Manual Venom Extraction Toxicity Venom Utilization 10.The Bite and Its Effects The Nature of the Bite Bite or Stahl Bite Patterns Actions after a Strike The Snake-Bite Hazard Snake Bite Statistics Fatalities from Rattlesnake Bite in the United States Proportion of Rattlesnake Cases Ending Fatally Variable Factors in Snake-Bite Cases Illegitimate Bites Temporal Variables in Snake-Bite Cases Seasonal and Climatic Effects on the Gravity of Snake Bite Symptoms and Aftereffects Discussion of Symptoms by Categories Symptomatic Case Reports by Species Case Duration Causes of Fatalities The Symptoms of Crotalus durissus Bite Infection in Rattlesnake Bite Permanent Aftereffects Effect of Venom on the Eyes and Other Organs The Recurrence of Snake-Bite Symptoms Susceptibility, Resistance, and Immunity to Rattlesnake Venom Immunity to Snake Bite in Man Susceptibility of Domestic Animals Immunity in Mammals That Prey on Snakes Susceptibhility of Reptiles Effect of Rattlesnake Venom on Plants 11.Treatment and Prevention of the Bite The Treatments Proposed: Their History and Present Status Scarification, Incision, and Suction Excision or Amputation Cauterization The Tourniquet, Ligature, or Constriction Band freezing and Cold Packs Cures Derived from the Snake The Split-Chicken Treatment Milk Miscellaneous Animal Products Botanical Cures and Vegetable Products Oil and Fats Kerosene Inorganic Chemicals Mud or Earth Applications Snake Stones Narcotics and Stimulants Emetics and Purgatives Some New Drugs Veterinary Treatments Antivenin Preparation of Antivenin Specificity of Antivenins Use of Antivenin Recommended Treatment for Rattlesnake Bite The Prevention of Rattlesnake Bite How People Get Bitten; Example Incidents Lessons to Be Learned The Rattlesnake in the Blankets How Illegitimate Bites Happen Multiple Bites Human Attitudes toward Rattlesnakes Snake-Handling Cults Murder, Suicide, and War Protective Devices The Human fear of Snakes The Effect of the Rattlesnake Threat on People's Actions Rattlesnakes and Domestic Animals Animal Fears of Snakes Stock Losses from Rattlesnake Bite Symptoms of Rattlesnake Bite in Animals Rattlesnakes and Dogs, Coyotes, and Small Animals 12. Control and Utilization Methods of Control Campaigns for Killing at Dens Traps Fences Gases and Poisons Encouragement of Competitive Predators and Enemies Elimination of Food Supply and Cover 237 Bounties Fires Traffic Casualties Methods of Catching Rattlesnakes Tools and Equipment Collections of Preserved Snakes Shipping Rattlesnakes Commercial Utilization of Rattlesnakes and Their By-Products The Live-Snake Market Snake Shows 2 Venom Rattlesnake Oil and Fat Rattlesnake Flesh as Food Skin Products Miscellaneous Products Photographing Rattlesnakes 13.Enemies of Rattlesnakes Mammal Enemies Bird Enemies Reptile and Amphibian Enemies King Snakes Other Snakes Miscellaneous Reptiles and Amphibians Miscellaneous Enemies Parasites and Diseases 14. Indians and Rattlesnakes Religion, Superstition, and Folklore Rattlesnake Protection and Appeasement Legends and Tales Miscellaneous Superstitions and Beliefs Dreams Protective Measures Repellents, Charms, and Taboos Immunization Societies and Ceremonies Dances and Exhibitions The Hopi Snake Dance Snake-Bite Treatment Plant Remedies Remedies Derived from the Snake Suction and Surgical Treatments Miscellaneous Cures Rattlesnake Shamans and Ceremonial Cures Ceremonial Details Tribal Protection from Snake Bite Handling Rattlesnakes Shamanistic Magic Shamanistic Fees Shamanistic Taboos Evil Shamans and Poisoners Miscellaneous Indian-Rattlesnake Relationships Rattlesnakes as a Cause and Cure of Disease War Uses, Arrow Poisoning Art and Ornamentation Indian Field Knowledge of Rattlers Rattlesnakes as Food 15. Post-Columbian Knowledge of Rattlesnakes 16. Myths, Folklore, and Tall Stories Myths of Venom and Snake Bite Temporary Removal of Venom Glands Effect of Death on Venom Virulence Effects of Biting on the Biter Venom Transmitted through Mother's Milk Preferences in Biting Transfer of Venom to Another Animal Strange Venom Effects How Rattlesnakes Catch and Eat Their Prey Charming Prey Licking Prey Mythical Foods Folklore Remedies Derived from Rattlesnakes Protective Methods and Devices The Protective Hair Rope The Infallible Shot Repellents and Amulets Mythical Creatures Giant Rattlesnakes Hairy Rattlesnakes Rattlesnake- Bull-Snake Hybrids Queer Actions and Attributes Rattlesnake Odor Rattle Myths Some Traditional Stories Rattler Encounters with Other Creatures Rattlesnake Pilot The Vengeful Mate Swallowing Young for Their Protection Mother Nourishing Young The Fatal Boot The Roadrunner's Cactus Corral The Cabin Built on a Den The Rattler and the Wagon Wheel The Child Feeds a Rattlesnake The Thankful Rattlesnakes The Deep Freeze Tribal Heroes Miscellaneous Beliefs and Folklore Incipient Myths Dreams Superstitions about Meeting Rattlers Rattlesnakes and Weather Miscellaneous Myths, Legends, and Stories Conclusion Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisReflects the enormous growth in interest about amphibians and the increased intensity of scientific research into their biology and continent-wide distribution that has occurred during the past two decades. This title presents the spectacular diversity of North American amphibians in a geographic context.Table of ContentsPREFACE INTRODUCTION North American Amphibians The North American Continent Glaciation Climate and Amphibian Distribution FROGS OF NORTH AMERICA Family Ascaphidae Family Bufonidae Family Dendrobatidae Family Eleutherodactylidae Family Hylidae Family Leptodactylidae Family Microhylidae Family Pelobatidae Family Pipidae Family Ranidae Family Rhinophrynidae SALAMANDERS OF NORTH AMERICA Family Ambystomatidae Family Amphiumidae Family Cryptobranchidae Family Dicamptodontidae Family Plethodontidae Family Proteidae Family Rhyacotritonidae Family Salamandridae Family Sirenidae MAPPING NORTH AMERICAN AMPHIBIANS Making the Maps Dealing with Taxonomic Changes and New Information Sources of Error Further Reading Notes Acknowledgments Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Pacific is not only the world's largest body of water; its vast expanse also includes an extraordinary number and diversity of oceanic islands, from Palau and the Marianas east of the Philippines to Cocos Island and the Galapagos west of the Americas. This title is suitable for both novice sightseers and professional naturalists.Trade Review"This accessible and informative guide is the most comprehensive field guide available... A must have for those with an interest in the herpetofauna of the region." -- Ian Paulsen The Guardian "This book will doubtless long be the first reference to which almost anyone will turn regarding Pacific reptiles and amphibians." Zoological JournalTable of ContentsPreface Introduction Island & Island Group Herpetofaunas Recognizing Species Identification Plates Acknowledgements Checklist Indices

Read more less

Book SynopsisIf you travel the open ocean anywhere in the tropics, you are very likely to see flyingfish. These beautifully colored "ocean butterflies" shoot out of the water and sail on majestic, winglike pectoral fins to escape from predators such as dolphins, swordfish, and tuna. This book presents flyingfish.Trade Review"Ornithologist Steve Howell's engrossing natural history is embellished with 90 superb colour photographs of the ornate goldwing and other beauties among these 'ocean butterflies'."--Nature "A mesmerizing natural history."--Scott Shalaway, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Beautiful... Informative as Howell's book is, the best thing about it are the photographs. The pictures of the different varieties of flyingfish captured in flight are truly spectacular."--Asbury Park Press "Charming... [A] great book for any fan of natural history and anyone who still remembers they day they discovered some fish can fly!"--Gabriel Thoumi, Mongabay.com "Watching flyingfish is one of my favorite things about pelagic trips. If you'd like to find out more about these strange fish, this tiny, but attractive, book is for you."--Grant McCreary, Birder's Library "This slim book is filled with fascinating facts, interesting anecdotes and lovely photographs about a widespread family of fishes that are almost completely unknown. Fishkeepers, fishermen, globetrotters and nature lovers--whether an adult or a young person--will enjoy this book. Hopefully, it will help inspire both research and conservation efforts focused upon these essential animals."--Devorah Bennu, GrrlScientist, Guardian "Delightful... Answers many questions about these interesting fish."--Gerry Rising, Buffalo News "The Amazing World of Flyingfish ... is amazing. Once I opened it I did not put it down... I now have a strong urge to be back on the bow, looking at the deep blue water, waiting for that mysterious explosion of gossamer and silver. Fish enthusiasts, travelers, naturalists and photographers will love this book, so buy it for friends and family. Most of all buy a copy for yourself."--Roy John, Canadian Field-Naturalist "I highly recommend this wonderful book to anyone interested in the diversity of life and/or sea creatures."--DRK, Wildlife Activist "It is a beautiful little book."--DOB, Flying Fish "This book is the kind of fare that, when consumed at a young age, can instill a lifelong fascination and concern for all things marine--perfect propaganda for seabird biologists to pass along to the nestlings on their gift list. It could easily be a book for children or adults. But make sure you take a look at it before you give it away--you may want to buy another copy!"--Robert Pitman, Marine OrnithologyTable of ContentsPreface ix WHAT IS A FLYINGFISH? 1 WHERE DO FLYINGFISH LIVE? 5 HOW MANY KINDS ARE THERE? 7 HOW BIG ARE THEY? 10 HOW DO THEY FLY? 12 WHY DO THEY FLY? 19 WHAT COLORS ARE THEY? 27 HOW CAN I IDENTIFY THEM? 34 A Note on the Photos 39 Acknowledgments 41 References 43 Index 45

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"[Sure] to become a landmark and iconic reference for years to come."---Howard O. Clark, Jr., Sonoran Herpetologist"This well-designed and superbly illustrated book offers impressive comprehensive coverage of the biology of the living families of the world’s lizards."---J. Whitfield Gibbons, The Quarterly Review of Biology

Read more less

Book SynopsisPacific Salmon Life Histories gives detailed descriptions of the different life phases through which each of the seven species pass.Trade ReviewGroot and Margolis have compiled a timely classic, beautifully illustrated with 21 color plates. The text is the current, ultimate review of the life histories of the seven Pacific salmon species. Anyone wanting the definitive word in one volume, this is it - right now. -- Charlie Powell * Pullman Daily News *This is a timely, up-to-date synthesis of our knowledge of the life histories of the seven species of Pacific salmon. * Canadian Society of Zoologists *The quantity of information contained within this volume is immense, and the book is unrivalled as a compendium of data and references on Pacific salmon life histories ... it is an excellent review and the culmination of a major effort by acknowledged experts on each of the species ... This book is destined to become a classic library reference and will probably also adorn the personal shelves of most salmon researchers and many others besides. -- John Armstrong * Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology *Table of ContentsPreface / C. Groot and L. MargolisLife History of Sockeye Salmon / Robert L. Burgner, University of WashingtonLife History of Pink Salmon / William R. Heard, Auke Bay Fisheries Laboratory, AlaskaLife History of Chum Salmon / E.O. Salo, University of WashingtonLife History of Chinook Salmon / M.C. Healey, University of British ColumbiaLife History of Coho Salmon / F.K. Sandercock, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, CanadaLife Histories of Masu and Amago Salmon / Fumihiko Kato, National Institute of Fisheries Science, JapanIndexes

Read more less