Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History [Hardcover]

John E., Werler (Author), James R. Dixon (Author), Regina Levoy (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2000

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. 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 subspecies of Texas snakes. Well-written species accounts describe each snake's appearance, look-alikes, 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"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 labour of love and the culmination of many years of effort by both authors." -Jonathan A. Campbell, Professor of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington

Review

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 )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; First edition (July 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292791305
• ISBN-13: 978-0292791305
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #653,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #69 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Reptiles

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent work -- more like this needed for other regions, August 17, 2001

By 

Jonathan Crowe (Shawville, QC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History (Hardcover)

The authors inform us in the preface that work on this book began twenty years before publication. It shows. It has all the usual sections you would expect from such a guide: a general introduction, an identification key, a note on venom, an extensive bibliography and, of course, species and subspecies accounts. But those accounts have a level of detail and thoroughness that are unmatched by any other guide, and each gives an in-depth survey of the scientific knowledge of the snake in question. The range maps are extraordinarily detailed and precise, and the 208 color photos are nothing short of exquisite.

Nitpickers will surely complain that this book does not always follow the standard common and scientific names established by Collins. Suffice to say that there is a fierce debate about taxonomy at the moment, and to dismiss a book because its authors take the other side of that debate ignores the treasure of knowledge that a book like this offers. Frankly, most readers couldn't care less one way or the other; there's more to herpetology than just taxonomy. The snakes remain the snakes no matter what they're called.

If only guides to snakes of other regions were this good. Highly recommended.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Snakes of Texas, July 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History (Hardcover)

The book by Werler and Dixon is current in its technical aspects from the scientific classification view. It takes into consideration some of the technical errors that have been made in the last few years by even experienced people and brings this information current.

At the same time, the book gets away from some of the "standardized" common names that have been used for over twenty years that are misleading. It lists some of these with more applicable common names. This work is creative and is definitely not status quo where common names are concerned. This benefits the reader.

The book is somewhat unique in that it is a collective effort of a respected zoo man (Werler) and a respected museum curator (Dixon). They obviously have worked in concert to develop natural history information that is interesting to read and applicable to someone observing or collecting in the field.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in herpetology, especially if they are interested in Texas herpetology.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Volume on Texas Snakes, June 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History (Hardcover)

This book is a welcome and much-needed addition to the literature on identification and natural history of Texas snakes! The color photos are beautiful and the maps depict more detailed localities than usually found in comparable books. Common names are helpful and grammatically correct (i.e., Yellow-bellied Water Snake, as opposed to Yellowbelly Water Snake, as listed in some current publications). Scientific names are up-to-date; in fact, some reflect research currently in press in herpetological journals. Drs. Werler and Dixon have provided amateur and professional herpetologists alike with the benefit of their 100-plus years of combined experience with Texas snakes. If you purchase only one book on Texas snakes, this is the one to choose.