Snakes of the United States and Canada FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Snakes have long fascinated those interested in nature. These master hunters of the reptile world have evolved a legless body that allows them to slip into burrows, cracks, and crevices or simply coil themselves around a branch while waiting for a bird to alight. Then, with astonishing speed, they strike their quarry. Now their secret world is explained as Carl and Evelyn Ernst present virtually all that is known about each of the 131 species of snakes found in the United States and Canada. Their clear writing coupled with color photographs and a range map for each species result in a book that explains how to identify each snake, where the snakes occur, and how they behave. Detailed information is given about each snake's morphology, reproduction, growth rate, diet, and predators." The book reveals the diversity of snakes that can be found in the United States and Canada. Beginning with the elusive blind snakes, Ernst and Ernst then describe the three species of boas, the many species of colubrid snakes, and finally the venomous coral snakes, pit vipers, and yellow-bellied sea snakes. A glossary of terms and bibliography complete this comprehensive reference book. Destined to become a classic, Snakes of the United States and Canada is the one resource for anyone interested in these unique reptiles.
SYNOPSIS
This reference classifies the 131 snake species found in the U.S. and Canada according to their six families—blindsnakes, boa, colubrid, coral, and pit viper—and summarizes their traits for identification and better understanding. Accompanied by a color photograph, each entry describes the appearance of the snake, where it lives, how it reproduces and feeds, and its potential predators. Information on fossil records, longevity, population dynamics, and venom is also provided when known. The authors are a professor of biology at George Mason University and the director of information for the National Science Resource Center. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
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