Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Texas, Volume I [Paperback]

John Abbott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2005

Damselflies and Dragonflies (Odonata) of Texas is an indispensable reference to the 223 species of odonates distributed throughout the Lone Star state. Included in this volume are detailed species distribution and seasonality information arranged so that

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (December 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411665252
• ISBN-13: 978-1411665255
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,346,774 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Data reference of maps, seasonality, and county presence, August 10, 2008

By 

Soleglad (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Texas, Volume I (Paperback)

Basics: 2006, softcover, 320 pages, 223 species, range maps, seasonal bars, no illustrations

A subtitle would be helpful for anyone buying this book unseen. That subtitle should read something like: "A Reference of Distribution Maps, County Lists, and Seasonal Presence". This book is strictly a data reference. It contains zero illustrations and no identification or descriptive information.

The information in this book is excellent and highly useful for anyone with a keen interest in the Odonata beyond just pretty pictures. Each of the 223 Texas species receives one full page that offers these four things: Texas map of county presence, a seasonal chart of presence, a list of counties in which the species has been found, and a brief, one-line description of its habitat.

The Texas map, showing outlines for all counties, contains a star to denote the presence of the species in a county. Additionally, each map is tailored to fit into the half-page section by zooming in or out. This helps to maximize the space by showing only the small or the large distribution within Texas.

Found at the beginning of the book, some "pre-pendices" provide excellent information. An example is the Seasonality of Odonata in Texas which displays the seasonal charts of all the species. Additionally, the species-charts are arranged in chronological order by first appearance in the year. This was a very useful method to visually display all this data.

Several types of lists are also provided. Besides just a listing of all Texas species, a list has been prepared for each of the Texas counties. There are several other unique charts, discussions, and site information that will be appreciated.

I recommend this book to anyone with a desire to advance their data-knowledge on the Odonata of Texas. This is a good companion to Abbott's illustrated guide, "Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States."

I've listed several related books below...
1) Dragonflies and Damselflies of TX and the South-Central US: TX, LA, AR, OH, and NM by Abbott
2) Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Texas, Volume 2 by Abbott
3) Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Texas, Volume 3 by Abbott
4) Common Dragonflies of the Southwest by Biggs
5) Dragonflies and Damselflies of California by Manolis
6) Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast by Beaton
7) Dragonflies of the Florida Peninsula, Bermuda, and Bahamas by Dunkle
8) Dragonflies through Binoculars by Dunkle
9) Common Dragonflies and Damselflies of Eastern North America (DVD) by Walton/Dodge