Texas Snakes, Identification, Distribution, and Natural History

John Werler, who, as the former director of the Houston Zoo had the most fascinating creatures of the world to inspire him, seems to have loves snakes most of all. He and Dixon share their interest in, understanding and scholarly pursuits of snakes in this worthy book. As Texas has a greater diversity of snake species than any other state in the country, there is a wealth of knowledge and a need for a complete guide to identifying and understanding Texas' snakes. The authors have created this definitive reference to all 109 species and sub-species of Texas snakes. The engaging, yet still scientific species accounts describe each snake's appearance, lookalikes, 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. Whether you want to foster a young persons early interest in this under-appreciated group of animals, or add to your own knowledge, the write up of the hog-nosed snake is worth the cost of this book!

Hardcover, 544 pp., 201 color, 70 line drawings, 74 maps, 7 x 9 7/8 inches, revised 2004."