R. D. Bartlett & Patricia P. Bartlett
Confidently identify the majority of the 207 species of reptiles other than snakes with the key, clear photo and telling descriptions in this guide. This guide, while not the handy field guide format birders and butterfliers have come to expect, is both useful and a good read. I like the system of numbering the species in the Table of Contents, and using that number in the species accounts and illustrations. There are line drawings that add to the artistic value of the book, and others that are to help with identification. Its other great value is in the inclusion of so many recent arrivals, exotic reptiles that have become part of the landscape (usually detrimental to the native species). Of interest will be the information on the care and feeding, and conservation status. The authors definition of east and central NA is from Texas to North Dakota and east.
From the publisher: “Features 200+ species and subspecies, 255 color photos, identifying factors, size, abundance/range, habitat, plus 149 distribution maps, notes on similar species, information on legal status.
Love lizards? Crazy for crocs? Or are you simply curious about the differences between a turtle and a terrapin? Whether you are an amateur or a professional, Bartlett’s Guide and Reference contains up-to-date and easy-to-use information for all 208 recognized species and subspecies of crocodilians, turtles, and lizards (native, introduced, and established). So no matter where you reside or roam, let the Bartletts be your guides to locating and identifying this region’s remarkable herpetological life forms.
"The Bartletts have completed a monumental undertaking in compiling information on and photographing all the diverse amphibian and reptile taxa of eastern and central North America.""
—Kevin M. Enge, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
"My choice as an effective primer for budding naturalists and young naturalists at heart wishing to become acquainted with this interesting segment of North America's natural legacy."
—Walter Meshaka Jr., Section of Zoology and Biology, State Museum of Pennsylvania
The Bartletts' guide to the alligators, crocodiles, turtles, and lizards of eastern and central North America features all 207 species inhabiting the region from west Texas, to western Manitoba, to the eastern seaboard. Each species account is accompanied by a color photo, distribution map, and description including appearance, behavior, range, habitat, and prey. Some introduced species covered in the guide, such as the large and predatory Nile monitor and spectacled caiman, illuminate ever-worsening environmental and ecological conditions, particularly in Florida and Texas.
This authoritative and user-friendly reference will appeal to hobbyists, amateur naturalists, biologists, and herpetologists seeking a focused, detailed, well-organized, and richly illustrated field guide.
About the authors:
Richard D. Bartlett and Patricia Bartlett are coauthors of numerous books, including Florida’s Snakes: A Guide to Their Identification and Habits and A Field Guide to Florida Reptiles and Amphibians.
Paper, 344 pages, 6 x 9 inches, full-color photographs, b&w illustrations, maps, Sept. 2006"
