The large and impressive monitor lizard (genus Varanus) has attracted a great deal of interest. Despite being wary and difficult to observe, monitors have received an extraordinary amount of attention from devoted students. Varanoid Lizards of the World is a comprehensive account of virtually everything important that is known about monitor lizards, beginning with detailed species accounts and proceeding to various modern comparative analyses. Where possible, people who have had detailed field experience with a particular species have assembled the species accounts. In the process of reporting what is known, the book also identifies what remains to be learned about these lizards. This volume stands as a model for showing how such a diverse monophyletic group can be exploited both to identify and to understand the actual course of evolution.
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About the Author
ERIC R. PIANKA, a world-renowned ecologist, has spent his life studying the evolutionary ecology of the second-largest group of terrestrial vertebrates, lizards. Pianka is the Denton A. Cooley Centennial Professor of Zoology at the University of Texas at Austin. His past and present research covers a broad range of topics pertaining to the ecology, biology, and evolution of reptiles. His text Evolutionary Ecology, first published in 1974, went through six editions and has been translated into many languages.
DENNIS R. KING (1942-2002) was one of the world's leading experts on lizards. For many years before his death, he was employed as Research Officer, Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia. King is author of more than 100 papers on Australian varanids, mammals, and conservation, among other topics.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good, needed update.,
This review is from: Varanoid Lizards of the World (Hardcover)
This is a great academic book. It is a much-needed update from Bennett's "Monitor Lizards: Natural history, biology & husbandry" (1998), which has been out of print for a number of years.
Most known facets of monitor biology are described for each species in Pianka and Kings' book, with each species being addressed by a person familiar with the species. Captive issues are addressed almost solely by a European audience, which is unfortunate since there are some very successful monitor herpetoculturists in the United States who could have made the captivity dimensions of this book far more respectable. The book's only fault worthy of mention here is that of photograph quality. You can likely find better photos via pictures of pet monitors on MySpace or Photobucket! Not only are most of the photographs of inferior composition, but the print reproduction is terrible - very hazey. The photographs seem more for being able to say "Look, we pictured each species" rather than "Look, you can use these photos to properly compare and IDENTIFY species." With these photos, your ability to do the latter is limited. Just the same, I don't feel this fault is so heavy a detractant to warrant deleting a star from its rating. Very good book. Monitor biologists likely already have their copies. Monitor pet keepers who wish to apply common sense and integrate their species' natural ecologies into the captive regime should have this title.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST own for the monitor keeper,
By Varanid Enthusiast (Omaha, NE United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Varanoid Lizards of the World (Hardcover)
This text includes detailed, accurate information on most types of monitor lizards. I consider it my "Monitor Bible." A must have for the enthusiast. Typically speaking the best monitor books are not around for long, so get it while you can. HIGHLY recommended!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Book I Own,
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This review is from: Varanoid Lizards of the World (Hardcover)
I have always wanted a Monitor lizard since I was 10. Now in 31 and fnally got one and this book has more than enough info to quench the thirst for knoledge on the Monitors
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