The Illustrated Guide to Poisonous Snakes [Paperback]

Department of the Army (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2003 | ISBN-10: 158574834X | ISBN-13: 978-1585748341 | Edition: 1st

If you fear snakes, it is probably because you are unfamiliar with them, or have been given misleading information. There is no need for you to fear snakes if you know:

Ø Their habits
Ø How to identify the dangerous species
Ø Precautions to take to prevent snakebite
Ø What actions to take in case of snakebite

THE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO POISONOUS SNAKES is a full-color guide to these dangerous but often misunderstood creatures. Originally issued by the U.S. government, this book is filled with practical knowledge and interesting facts. It is a must-have for campers, climbers, and snake lovers. Even the layman will find his interest in snakes awakened by this marvelous guide to some of nature's most elusive creatures.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

If you fear snakes, it is probably because you are unfamiliar with them, or have been given misleading information. There is no need for you to fear snakes if you know: their habits; how to identify the dangerous species; precautions to take to prevent a snakebite; what actions to take in case of a snakebite.
The Illustrated Guide to Poisonous Snakes is a full-color guide to these sometimes dangerous but often misunderstood creatures. Originally issued by the U.S. government, this book is filled with practical knowledge and interesting facts. It is a must-have for campers, climbers, and snake lovers. Even the layman will find his interest in snakes awakened by this marvelous guide to some of nature's most elusive creatures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158574834X
• ISBN-13: 978-1585748341
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,187,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars It's pretty much terrible, June 29, 2011

By 

Justin Michels (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Illustrated Guide to Poisonous Snakes (Paperback)

I bought this out of pure curiousity. The title says it all I think for anyone who is interested in Snakes. Just so that everyone understands for a snake to be poisonous you would need to eat it and then be in danger afterward, like a mushroom... Snakes are venomous. To make such a critical error should show how much effort went into this book. It's more like a pamphlet and doesn't offer any in depth information on any one family. It's just a jumble of pictures with poorly doen distribution maps.

I really hope the military is offering better training than this book to our soldiers.

2.0 out of 5 stars Major pictoral error on pages 86 and 88, November 17, 2008

By 

Nikolas W. Sutton "snake finder" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Illustrated Guide to Poisonous Snakes (Paperback)

This is an interesting book BUT it should be immediately pointed out that the species description of a Death Adder (Acanthopis) on page 86 is accompanied by the wrong photo of a TAIPAN (Oxyuranus) not an actual Death Adder as it should be. Similarly, the very next species account on page 88 of a Taipan is accompanied by the wrong photo of a DEATH ADDER, not an actual Taipan. It appears that the two photos were mistakenly switched! I don't own the original copy (1985?) and don't know if the same error occurs there as well (I have the 2003 edition). The two snakes look nothing alike (Taipan is very long and slender, Death Adder is short and stout) but of course they are still both lethal. Did anyone else notice the mistake?
Additionally, some of the other species' photos are somewhat blurry or lack good color, but overall I think the book is unique and therefore a great add to anyone's herpetological library because it is published by the U.S. Army and intended to educate soldiers deployed around the world about venomous snakes they may encounter. Very cool book.

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative, but poorly photographed, July 16, 2007

By 

C. Tyndall "solitary pagan" (Western NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Illustrated Guide to Poisonous Snakes (Paperback)

Most of the pictures taken of the snakes of the Americas were blurry and faded in color. Of course, most of us take precautions against snakes in the wild. But generally speaking, this book should be revised and republished.