Smithsonian Handbooks: Reptiles and Amphibians

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The most accessible recognition guides.

A systematic approach, authoritative text, and clear photographs make the Dorling Kindersley Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians the most comprehensive and easy-to-use pocket guide to the reptiles and amphibians of the world. Packed with over 600 color photographs of more than 400 species, this handbook is designed to enable you to recognize each species quickly and easily.

Expertly written, each entry combines a precise description with fully annotated photographs to highlight the chief characteristics and distinguishing features of each species. A comprehensive introduction describes the anatomy, lifecycle, and behavior of the major groups of reptiles and amphibians, while the initial steps of identification are facilitated by a clear visual key.

Each entry in the Dorling Kindersley Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians is accompanied by a map showing the geographical distribution of the species while the text and color-coded bands give the internationally accepted scientific name and provide at-a-glance information on size, diet, habitat, reproduction, and population status. A concise glossary explains all technical and scientific terms used in the book.

Author Biography: Mark O'Shea is Curator of the Reptile Collection at the West Midlands Safari Park, England. He has participated in scientific expeditions to many parts of the world, and since 1986 has been making films for television, including programs for the Discovery Channel and O'Shea's Big Adventure, shown on Animal Planet.

Tim Halliday is one of the world's foremost authorities on amphibians. He teaches at the UK's Open University and is International Director of the Declining Amphibians Populations Task Force.