Description
Book SynopsisGenerously illustrated, this essential handbook for herpetologists, ecologists, and naturalists features comprehensive keys to eggs, embryos, salamander larvae, and tadpoles; species accounts; a glossary of terms; and an extensive bibliography. The taxonomic accounts include a summarization of the morphology and basic natural history, as well as an introduction to published information for each species. Tadpole mouthparts exhibit major characteristics used in identifications, and the book includes illustrations for a number of species. Color photographs of larvae of many species are also presented. Handbook of Larval Amphibians of the United States and Canada, written by the foremost experts on larval amphibians, is the first guide of its kind and will transform the fieldwork of scientists and fish and wildlife professionals.
Trade ReviewAltig and McDiarmid's Handbook of Larval Amphibians ... synthesizes the scattered literature on the eggs and larval forms of frogs and salamanders in the United States and Canada. In addition to providing an informative key organized into geographic sectorsthe authors present technical advice for how to properly prepare eggs for identification as well as descriptions and illustrations of the structures necessary for identification... With a bit of scanning and searching accounts of related speciesreaders with limited expertise in amphibian larvae should be able to correctly identify many of the larvae with the photographs and illustrations provided.
-- Matthew D. Venesky * University of Chicago Press *
Table of ContentsForeword by Aaron Bauer
Preface
AcknowledgmentsIntroduction
Background and Scope1. The Amphibian Fauna
Salamanders, Newts, and Waterdogs
Frogs and Toads2. The Amphibian Life Cycle
Developmental Categories
Eggs
Key to Eggs
Embryos and Hatchlings
Key to Embryos and Hatchlings
Larvae3. Order Caudata: Salamanders and Relatives
Key to Larval and Larviform Salamanders
Taxonomic Accounts
Ambystomatidae (Mole and Giant Salamanders)
Amphiumidae (Amphiumas)
Cryptobranchidae (Hellbenders)
Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders)
Proteidae (Mudpuppy and Waterdogs)
Rhyacotritonidae (Torrent Salamanders)
Salamandridae (Newts)
Sirenidae (Dwarf Sirens and Sirens)4. Order Anura: Frogs and Toads
Key to Tadpoles
Taxonomic Accounts
Bufonidae (Toads)
Dendrobatidae (Dart-poison Frogs)
Hylidae (Treefrogs and relatives)
Leiopelmatidae (Tailed Frogs)
Leptodactylidae (White-lipped Frogs)
Microhylidae (Small-mouthed Toads and Sheep Frog)
Pipidae (Tongueless Frogs)
Ranidae (True Frogs)
Rhinophrynidae (Burrowing Toad)
Scaphiopodidae (Spadefoots)Glossary
Literature Cited
Index of Common Names
Index of Scientific Names
