The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians (Turtleback)

by NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This stunning guide explores the kingdom of snakes, toads, frogs, turtles, lizards, salamanders, and crocodiles, with information on physical appearance, voice, breeding cycles, habitat, range, and status in the wild. Poisonous or otherwise dangerous animals are distinguished with a warning symbol. An essay on observing reptiles and amphibians, and detailed anatomical drawings, round out the coverage in this comprehensive guide.

From the Inside Flap
Why are some frogs able to freeze solid and still survive? How can secretions from amphibians offer scientists clues for treating human ailments? What allows reptiles and amphibians to regenerate their limbs? Reptiles & Amphibians, an exciting new Explore Your World? handbook, incorporates the Discovery Channel's unique authoritative approach and acclaimed visuals to answer these and other questions in a captivating blend of information and entertainment.

Reptiles & Amphibians features:
¸ Background information on evolution, anatomy, physiology, habitats, and life cycles of a range of reptile and amphibian families.
¸ A detailed look at how reptiles and amphibians survive-how they eat, move around, defend themselves, and combat temperature extremes.
¸ Examinations of metamorphosis, growth and longevity, and vocalization techniques.
¸ Practical advice on how to responsibly study reptiles and amphibians in the wild or care for them as pets.
¸ An identification guide to more than 160 of the most fascinating herpetological species from around the world, organized by environment.
¸ More than 300 full-color photos and illustrations.

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Product Details

• Turtleback: 744 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 1 edition (November 12, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394508246
• ISBN-13: 978-0394508245
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 3.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,492 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Fauna > Reptiles & Amphibians
  #43 in	Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Ornithology
  #67 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Birdwatching

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book for anyone from children to professionals., December 14, 1998

By A Customer

My son became fascinated with reptiles and amphibians at around age 4. This book has helped us both tremendously to understand and identify creatures all around us. We have devoured books of all types at our local library and we keep coming back to this one. The pictures are fabulous and easy enough for a child to use. The text is informative and well presented. My son will be thrilled to find this book under the Christmas tree this year!

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Its time for a new edition, July 8, 2000

By	"blackhead" - See all my reviews

This book was written in 1979. The text and photographs were excellent, although the range maps were so small as to be useless, and the common names were the awkwardly academic types used in the first half of the last century. Supposedly, this book was updated in 1997. The text is still good, as are the photographs, but the common names still have not been corrected, the range maps are still too small, and over 70 new species that are now recognized from North America are missing from this book. This Audubon Guide is out-dated. Time to write a new one, with standard common names, modern taxonomy (drop the subspecies), and maybe some new photographs. Not recommended. Get the Peterson Guide. It may be a decade old, but its newer than this book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive, well organized field guide., June 21, 1998

By A Customer

The photos which illustrate this book are organized in such a way that one does not have to be familiar with reptiles and amphibians to make resonably accurate field identifications. For instance, the photographs of striped snakes are grouped together so that you can easily check for that matches the animal you have found.

The text and range map section gives much valuable information as to habitat and behavior as well as breeding and the size of neonates as well as adults.