The Garter Snakes: Evolution and Ecology (Animal Natural History Series, Vol 2)

Customer Reviews:

An essential reference.......2001-08-17

For anyone interested in garter snakes, this book is the Holy Grail. Its chapters summarize a tremendous amount of work done on the genus, and make this book the one reference to consult first when doing any research on garters. It covers all thirty species, including many from Mexico and Central America for which data is limited and that I had never heard of before. I'm very pleased with it, and refer to it often.

But bear in mind that this a scientific monograph. As monographs go it is surprisingly accessible, but it does not pull any scholarly punches, and some parts of it will be beyond some readers, particularly children. The species key, for example, refers to measurements that no amateur or casual observer would be able to make, but it does so in order to be correct rather than easy.

That garter snake researchers need to own a copy of it goes without saying; amateurs with a serious interest in garters ought to buy it as well.

The only "must-have" snake book.......1999-11-21

There is far too much information in this book to be summarized in a review. Suffice it to say that the book is fascinating: the writing is clear, the conclusions sound, and the research extensive. For most other varieties of snake--other colubrids, boidae, vipers, even elapids--there is no shortage of books, and books covering even individual species are plentiful (think how many books are devoted exclusively to Boa constrictor ssp., for example). And while most of these books are worth reading once, the majority say little that all the others don't say, too. Garter snakes, however, seldom rate more than a paragraph or two in any snake book, and there are very few books devoted exclusively to garters (I can think of only one, offhand). This book, however, gives garters the attention--and gives the reader the information--that the species deserves. If one is a ratsnake enthusiast, or a python person, or mad about milksnakes, there are plenty of books worth reading, but few that are indispensable. If one is a breeder, researcher, or simply an interested layperson regarding garter snakes, however, this book is one that simply cannot be done without.

Any garter enthusiast will want this in their library.......1999-06-29

This wonderful compendium of gartersnake information is a treasure for lovers of Thamnophis. The color plates are wonderful, and the biological information is fascinating. Who would have guessed that some garters actually brumate (hibernate) in water? A great gift for any gartersnake keeper.

Rattler!: A Natural History of Rattlesnakes

Average customer rating:

Best photography of rattlesnakes yet.
Great for complete species reference.
If you like rattlesnakes...

Rattler!: A Natural History of Rattlesnakes
Chris Mattison
Manufacturer: Blandford Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

Best photography of rattlesnakes yet........1999-01-10

If you don't read a single word in this book it's worth the price for the photos alone. The section on all the various rattlesnake species in the back of the book is also outstanding and only adds to the overall excellence of this publication. Well done Mr. Mattison.

Great for complete species reference........1998-11-22

Mattison does a great job of providing an overview of the natural history of the rattlesnake genera. Besides natural history information, the book has photos and descriptions of ALL KNOWN species (and most sub-species). I grab this book off my shelf first when looking up details on a particular rattlesnake species. Most field guides contain only the "major" rattlesnake species. This book is a great quick reference on all species. It is very well organized.

If you like rattlesnakes..........1998-03-03

you will probably like this book! The emphasis is on the scientific side of the snakes; I would have liked to have had more information about Mattison's =adventures= in getting the information and particularly getting the superb photographs that decorate the book.

Average customer rating:

Nice pictures, but...
A good book

Venomous Snakes of the World
Mark O'Shea
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0691124361

Book Description

Feared, revered, and often misunderstood, venomous snakes have been a source of legend and nightmare since time immemorial. In this comprehensive volume, author Mark O'Shea has combined expertly written, in-depth descriptions of the world's common and exotic venomous snakes, highlighted by previously unpublished gripping accounts of his adventures with snakes, including personal observations and several serious snakebite episodes.

The book begins with a description of the anatomies of venomous snakes, along with their diversity and distribution. Also included is a unique in-depth look at the various types of snake venom and the ways that each type attacks the body. A section on anti-venom, including thoughts on the looming anti-venom crisis, is also presented. Information on the adaptations of ocean-dwelling snakes and issues of snake conservation as well as an examination of venomous lizards follow.

From bamboo pitvipers to deep-diving seasnakes, and from adders and asps to terciopelos and the massasaugas, this book takes an original approach to examining these enthralling creatures. Rather than the typical taxonomic categorization, the snakes are grouped by geographic location: the Americas, Africa, Eurasia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, and the Oceans. Each section is illustrated with stunning and rare pictures, many of which were taken by the author himself.

Suitable for professional snake handlers and armchair herpetologists alike, this extremely accessible book is an enthusiastic celebration of the diversity and beauty of venomous snakes worldwide.

Explores the secret world of venomous snakes, revealing their habitats, characteristics, and hunting and feeding behaviors
Contains thrilling details of O'Shea's own encounters with snakes
Provides detailed information on venomous snake diversity, venom types, and conservation
Includes a world map illustrating venomous snake distribution and detailed accounts of more than 170 species
Features over 150 full-color photographs, many of them of extremely rare species

Customer Reviews:

Nice pictures, but..........2006-11-06

This book has some really good photos, but is more of a travelogue than a good source of information on venomous snakes. A fun read with pretty pictures. Look elsewhere for in-depth information.

A good book.......2005-11-02

Overall, this is a pretty good book. The photographs are what make it great. The text is informative, though not very techincal, so if you are looking for a more in-depth book, this may not be what you are looking for. However, for the price it is well worth it.

The Green Tree Python and Emerald Tree Boa: Care, Breeding and Natural History, Second Extended Edition

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The Green Tree Python and Emerald Tree Boa: Care, Breeding and Natural History, Second Extended Edition
Ron Kivit , Stephen Wiseman , and Andreas Kirschner
Manufacturer: Kirschner & Seufer Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 3980826406

Product Description

This new expanded edition provides chapters on the evolutionary convergence, housing requirements, selection, taxonomy, distribution in the wild, natural history, physical descriptions, mutations and hybrids, care, breeding, and diseases of the Green Tree Python and the Emerald Tree Boa. Over 259 full-color photographs, 28 color illustrations, distribution maps, tables, and extensive bibliography.

Texas Snakes: A Field Guide (Texas Natural History Guides)

Average customer rating:

Great Maps, oh but thats it.
Great Guide!
Texas Snakes: A Field Guide (Texas Natural History Guides)

Texas Snakes: A Field Guide (Texas Natural History Guides)
James R. Dixon , and John E. Werler
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0292706758

Book Description

From the legendary, fear-inspiring western diamond-backed rattlesnake to the tiny, harmless plains blind snake, Texas has a greater diversity of snake species than any other state in the country. This fully illustrated field guide to Texas snakes, written by two of the state's most respected herpetologists, gives you the most current and complete information to identify and understand all 110 species and subspecies.

Texas Snakes: A Field Guide has all the resources you need to identify snakes in the wild and in your yard:

110 full-color, close-up photos that show every snake, as well as 39 detailed line drawings
110 range maps
Up-to-date species accounts that describe each snake's appearance, look-alikes, size, and habitat
A checklist of all Texas snakes and a key to the species
Reliable information on poisonous snakes and preventing and treating snakebites
Concise guides to snake conservation, classification, and identification

Drawn from the authors' monumental, definitive Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History, this field guide is your must-have source for identifying any snake you see in Texas.

Customer Reviews:

Great Maps, oh but thats it........2006-07-10

The maps in this book are of exceptional detail narrowing ranges down to countys which is hard to get in many smaller field guides. However this is about the extent of this books worth. Although the pictures are descent they are by no means fantastic or worth writing home about and there are not very many of each animal, usually just one example, which any herper knows is not enough. My suggestion get Tennants Lone Star Field Guide to Texas Snakes thats a far better read.

Great Guide!.......2006-04-29

This is a great guide - we are currently moving from Northwest Arkansas to Liberty County, Texas, and this guide will be very helpful in helping us to identify snakes we are not used to, and helping our four children to know which snakes are bad snakes. The pictures are beautiful, and I like that under most pictures, there is a label identifying where the snake was found (some poisonous in Liberty and Polk Counties!!!).

The only thing we do not like about the guide is that it isn't divided into regions of Texas - Texas is a huge state and it would be easier to look up a snake quickly if it were divided into regions of Texas rather than families of snakes. The poisonous snakes do have their own section, though, which is good. There is also good information about snakes in the front of the book. The descriptions of each snake are very thorough and we like reading about the habitats of different snakes.

We hope to find more wildlife guides like this one on Texas snakes.

Texas Snakes: A Field Guide (Texas Natural History Guides).......2006-03-10

This is a must have book for everyone that lives in Texas whether you are into snakes or not. I've refered many to this book just to identify snakes in their yards, and is a must have when hiking or camping. I have an older version that looks like it's been thru the washing machine because I've used it so much. When this newest edition came out, I had to have it, and was pleasantly surpised with a few additions such as current Texas laws and regulations concerning reptiles. It's field guide size makes it perfect to throw into your glove box or backpack to keep handy. It has great pictures, discriptions, and ranges of every single snake in the state of Texas. Buy and enjoy!

Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History

Average customer rating:

The best
Excellent Guide To Texas Reptiles
The authority on Texas Snakes!
The best book on the snakes of Texas
Good Enough to Make Your Skin Crawl

Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History
John E., Werler , and James R. Dixon
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0292791305

Book Description

"I can't think of two better persons to take on the daunting task of preparing a book on the snakes of Texas. . . . This book was obviously a labor of love and the culmination of many years of effort by both authors."

—Jonathan A. Campbell, Professor of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington

From the legendary, fear-inspiring Western Diamondback rattlesnake to the tiny, harmless Plains blind snake, Texas has a greater diversity of snake species than any other state in the country. Recognizing the public's need for a complete guide to identifying and understanding Texas' snakes, two of the state's most respected herpetologists have joined forces to create this definitive reference to all 109 species and sub-species of Texas snakes.

Well-written species accounts describe each snake's appearance, lookalikes, size, habitat, behavior, feeding, and reproduction. The authors also include color photos and finely detailed line drawings to aid field identification, along with accurate range maps, a checklist of Texas snakes, a key to the species, and a brief discussion of classification and taxonomy. The authors round out this volume with essays on snake myths and misinformation, snakebite and its prevention, conservation, Texas biotic provinces, and a brief history of Texas herpetology.

Customer Reviews:

The best.......2007-10-11

This is by far the best book I have come across pertaining to snakes - specifically Texas snakes. Great bk. for any herp. enthusiast or just a regular person wanting to know what's what. This bk. has plenty to offer. There is detailed scientific info. including range, habitat, reproduction, behavior, etc. of species. The pictures are amazing & thorough for easy identification. I particularly like the range maps.

I highly recommend this bk. to anyone who wants a great reference bk. on snakes. This book will not disappoint you.

Excellent Guide To Texas Reptiles.......2007-01-06

Terrific photos and scientifically up-to-date. Easy to use guide for herpetology student or the causually interested.

The authority on Texas Snakes!.......2004-11-08

This is easily the most complete and best book on Texas Snakes available. There is an ample amount of photographs with numerous pictures of some species and also rare to see pictures such as Western Diamondback's fighting and a couple pages of leusistic/albino snakes. Each snakes description tells just about everything you'd want to know and then some, enough to satisfy both amateurs and experts. This is an excellent book to keep at home for reference and to study up on Texas Snakes. This book also has more species of snakes in it than other books on Texas Snakes I have read which is a bonus since the others may be excluding something you could run into in the field.

The best book on the snakes of Texas.......2004-05-25

I've encountered numerous books about herps, and this one is one of the best of them all--it is certainly the best book pertaining to the snakes of Texas specifically.
The species descriptions are accurate; detailed species information is given with each species. Behaviour, range, habitat, diet, reproduction, are all covered in a fair degree of depth for each species.
Despite on reviewers comments, I have no complaint with either the common or scientific names; it uses common names I've heard frequently. In most cases, it will write them in a grammatically corret fashion; Yellow bellied water snake as opposed to yellowbelly water snake, say, but that merely makes the work appear more professional and read much better. The latin names...well taxonomy is always under debate anyway, and I would personally agree with most of thier decisions (although I'm a mere hobbyist).
The photos are incredibly well done; I particularly like that the authors saw fit to provide mulitiple photos with locality information for highly variable species (i.e. western coachwhip, bullsnakes, etc.).

Good Enough to Make Your Skin Crawl.......2002-04-29

This is a wonderful book on Texas snakes. As one who recently had a (noninjurious) run-in with a western diamondback rattler, I can attest that the photography is stunning. This is almost an artwork. This book provides a wealth of information that is easily accessible to the nonspecialist on each species--range, specific habitats within that range, generalized behavior traits, likely reactions upon encountering humans, diet, mating habits, etc. The only real criticisms I have of the book are minor. It would have been nice if the color plates had been interspersed with each species covered, rather being placed all together. As it is now, one reads up on the snake and has to thumb through the book to find the picture. Also, as many of us buy this book to be able to identify snakes we are likely to encounter in normal activities, more information pertaining to where one is likely to encounter each species (e.g. in leaf litter, under rocks, inside ranch buildings) would have been helpful. This is a book that every Texan who wanders outside should have, as well as those interested in herpetology or snakes. As a librarian I have encountered numerous books on Texas snakes. This one is far and away the best.

Mountain Kings: A Collective Natural History of California, Sonoran, Durango and Queretaro Mountain Kingsnakes

Average customer rating:

This Is THE Best Snake Natural History I've Ever Seen...
an excellent read!!

Mountain Kings: A Collective Natural History of California, Sonoran, Durango and Queretaro Mountain Kingsnakes

Manufacturer: Brian Hubbs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Alterna: The Gray-Banded Kingsnake

ASIN: 0975464108

Product Description

Based on twenty years of compiling detailed information, this is the first guide to the Natural History of the fifteen different Mountain Kingsnakes in one source. Each species account provides common and scientific names, personal field stories, life habits, prey and reproduction, range, habitat, taxonomic data, population, and laws pertaining to the species. Over 200 photographs, 76 in full-color plates, and 16 detailed range maps.

Customer Reviews:

This Is THE Best Snake Natural History I've Ever Seen..........2005-01-08

This book is a breath of fresh air in the world of reptile literature. The combination of extremely detailed life history information on these seldom seen snakes, coupled with the great photos of individual subspecies and habitats is amazing. I especially enjoyed the personal writing style of the author, who not only describes the smallest details about the lives of these snakes in nature, but also leads the reader on field excursions to seek them out. A book like this has been a long time in coming, and if you don't already own it, you have no idea what you're missing. There are even two fold-out range maps that describe the ranges of the various mountain kingsnake species in great detail, something that is lacking in almost every other publication I have ever seen. I still can't believe the amount of habitat photos that are included. I think they may outnumber the photos of the snakes themselves. OUTSTANDING, Mr. Hubbs. I can't wait to see your next book.

an excellent read!!.......2005-01-07

Any reptile enthusiast(not just kingsnake enthusiast) will enjoy this book on mountain kingsnakes. Easy to read text, good pictures and range maps. Lots of good information on distribution, habitat, etc.. on these beautiful serpents.I especially enjoyed Mr. Hubbs storys on finding these snakes in the field. If you have any interest in reptiles, this is a must have book.

Three Rivers: The Yukon's Great Boreal Wilderness

Average customer rating:

Explores a region of vast wilderness previously unknown to the outside world
Accessing a great wilderness area..... GerryM
excellent

Three Rivers: The Yukon's Great Boreal Wilderness
Juri Peepre , Margaret Atwood , and John Ralston Saul
Manufacturer: Harbour Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A Land Gone Lonesome: An Inland Voyage Along the Yukon River

ASIN: 1550173650

Book Description

Three Rivers: The Yukon's Great Boreal Wilderness is a gorgeous coffee-table book about a wilderness area so vast and so crucial to planetary survival it defies comprehension. Previously unknown to the outside world, the Yukon's Three Rivers watershed is emerging as an environmental issue of global importance--a key piece of the boreal region.
The boreal forest is like a green banner draped around the northern hemisphere. It is the world's largest expanse of intact forest, covering nearly 11 percent of our planet's surface. Every breath we take is in part a gift from this immense, earth-circling ecosystem.
Now the renewed Mackenzie Valley pipeline proposal, the Alaska Pipeline and escalating energy and mineral exploration in the north all threaten this last world-scale refuge of natural values--and conservationists around the world are mobilizing to defend it. Three Rivers focuses on one of the most strategic undisturbed regions left in the world, an oceanic wilderness that is under threat from gas and mining development.
Packed with awe-inspiring photography, art and writings by such notables as Courtney Milne, Margaret Atwood and John Ralston Saul, this sumptuous volume offers an unforgettable tour of a natural wonderland so rich in grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, peregrine falcons and wildflowers most will have difficulty believing such a place still exists. Three Rivers is a prize to be cherished by anyone who appreciates great photography, fine writing and untrammelled nature, and a must-have for anyone who takes an interest in the fate of our beleaguered but still awe-inspiring planet.

Customer Reviews:

Explores a region of vast wilderness previously unknown to the outside world.......2006-05-20

THREE RIVERS: THE YUKON'S GREAT BOREAL WILDERNESS explores a region of vast wilderness previously unknown to the outside world, but is a major environmental hotspot of modern times as it represents one of the last, key pieces of the boreal region. With the Mackenzie Valley pipeline proposal looming to threaten it, the Three Rivers region is in the news and deserving of this coffee-table survey, which packs in color photos and art and writing by major authors to remind of the region's importance.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch

Accessing a great wilderness area..... GerryM.......2006-02-25

After visiting the yukon(from Australia)and travelling by road I was interested in learning about more inaccessable areas of the Yukon. The book is first and foremost a photographic journey in the great boreal wilderness area by way of the Snake, Bonnet Plume and Wind rivers. The photographs are spectacular but are accompanied by well written text and great descriptive writing by a number of different writers who made the trip. It also is informative where relevent of the history of the area and has just the right balance. The book is a focus on the need to conserve the area, and it successfully does this by "taking you there" and helping you see and feel it for yourself. It does not focus on an anti development theme as such but achieves the environmental focus in a positive and stunning manner.The book is a delight to look at and read and is well set out and captioned. The gwich'in inhabitants of the area and their lives are well integrated into the story and adds to make this a book worth having and revisiting. I can appreciate the care that went into preparing this book so that it is immediately visually stunning but then has wonderful text to read and enjoy and have some appeal to everyone.

excellent.......2006-01-13

A magnificent combination of pictures and text/stories on the Yukon. Great to see such a good book about a part of the world one rarely reads or hears about.

Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum: Volume 1

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Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum: Volume 1
George Albert Boulenger
Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Biochemistry | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Product Description

This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1893 edition by the British Museum, London.

Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum: Volume 2

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Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum: Volume 2
George Albert Boulenger
Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Biochemistry | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Product Description

This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1894 edition by the British Museum, London.

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