Customer Reviews

Varanoid Lizards of the World

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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