Reptiles And Amphibians Of The Pacific Islands

Download or read book Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands written by George R. Zug and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2013-06-28 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pacific is not only the worldÕs largest body of water; its vast expanse also includes an extraordinary number and diversity of oceanic islands, from Palau and the Marianas east of the Philippines to Cocos Island and the Gal‡pagos west of the Americas. The isolation of these islands and the extreme distances between them long prevented scientists from studying their floras and faunas in a comparative context. But now George R. Zug, one of the world's foremost experts on the diverse reptiles and amphibians of the Pacific Basin, offers the first such systematic overview in more than half a century. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands is a compendium of frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles living on these lands and in the adjacent waters of the oceanic islands in the tropical Pacific. The means to identify each species is included, along with entries that describe each animal's form, coloration, habitat, distribution, reproductive biology, and natural history. Color plates of more than 75 percent of the species also help to facilitate visual identification. This accessible and informative guide is the most comprehensive field guide available and will appeal to both novice sightseers and professional naturalists.

Download or read book Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands written by George R. Zug and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2013-06-28 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pacific is not only the world’s largest body of water; its vast expanse also includes an extraordinary number and diversity of oceanic islands, from Palau and the Marianas east of the Philippines to Cocos Island and the Galápagos west of the Americas. The isolation of these islands and the extreme distances between them long prevented scientists from studying their floras and faunas in a comparative context. But now George R. Zug, one of the world's foremost experts on the diverse reptiles and amphibians of the Pacific Basin, offers the first such systematic overview in more than half a century. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands is a compendium of frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles living on these lands and in the adjacent waters of the oceanic islands in the tropical Pacific. The means to identify each species is included, along with entries that describe each animal's form, coloration, habitat, distribution, reproductive biology, and natural history. Color plates of more than 75 percent of the species also help to facilitate visual identification. This accessible and informative guide is the most comprehensive field guide available and will appeal to both novice sightseers and professional naturalists.

Download or read book Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California, Including Its Pacific Islands and the Islands in the Sea of Cortés written by L. Lee Grismer and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2002-09-16 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Baja California peninsula is home to many forms of life found nowhere else on earth. This, combined with the peninsula's rugged and inaccessible terrain, has made the area one of the last true biological frontiers of North America. L. Lee Grismer is not only the foremost authority on the amphibians and reptiles of Baja California, but also an outstanding photographer. He has produced the most comprehensive work on the herpetofauna of the peninsula and its islands ever published. With its stunning color images, detailed accounts of many little-known species, and descriptions of the region's diverse environment, this is the definitive guide to the amphibians and reptiles of a fascinating and remote region. The culmination of Grismer's quarter century of fieldwork on the Baja peninsula and his exploration of more than one hundred of its islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortés, this book gives information on the identification, distribution, natural history, and taxonomy of each species of amphibian and reptile found there. Preliminary accounts of the life history of many of the salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes are reported here for the first time, and several species that were almost unknown to science are illustrated in full color. The book also contains new data on species distribution and on the effect of the isolated landscape of the peninsula and its islands on the evolutionary process. Much of the information gathered here is presented in biogeographical overviews that consider the extremely varied environments of Baja California in both a contemporary and a historical framework. An original and important contribution to science, this book will generate further research for years to come as it becomes a benchmark reference for both professionals and amateurs.

Download or read book Reptiles of the Solomon Islands written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Status of Conservation and Decline of Amphibians written by Harold Heatwole and published by CSIRO PUBLISHING. This book was released on 2018-06 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Amphibians are among the most threatened groups of animals on earth. In part due to their highly permeable skin, amphibians are highly sensitive to environmental changes and pollution and provide an early-warning system of deteriorating environmental conditions. The more we learn about the impact of environmental changes on amphibians, the better we as humans will be able to arrest their demise, and our own. Status of Conservation and Decline of Amphibians brings together the current knowledge on the status of the unique frogs of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. Although geographically proximate, each region presents unique challenges and opportunities in amphibian research and conservation. This book contributes to an understanding of the current conservation status of the amphibians of each region, aims to stimulate research into halting amphibian declines, and provides a better foundation for making conservation decisions. It is an invaluable reference for environmental and governmental agencies, researchers, policy-makers involved with biodiversity conservation, and the interested public.

Download or read book Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of California written by Robert C. Stebbins and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2012-09-04 with total page 552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Since his first book on western amphibians in 1951, Stebbins has been recognized as the authoritative voice on this subject. This new book, written with McGinnis, continues that high standard of accuracy and usefulness. It is filled with entertaining anecdotes and user-friendly information. I recommend this to anyone getting their first introduction to the rich and diverse world of Californian herpetofauna.” -David Wake, Curator, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley “Dr. Robert Stebbins is the elder herpetological master of the American West, and this book has long been one of the finest state field guides to amphibians and reptiles. Now partnering to create a new, expanded edition with accomplished biologist Dr. Samuel McGinnis, a classic publication has become even better. Both the professional herpetologist and the weekend amateur naturalist will find this top-notch guide to be invaluable when exploring California's diverse landscapes.” -Alan St. John, author of Reptiles of the Northwest

Download or read book The amphibians and reptiles of Luzon Island, Philippines, VIII: the herpetofauna of Cagayan and Isabela Provinces, northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range written by Rafe M. Brown and published by PenSoft Publishers LTD. This book was released on 2013-02-07 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Long celebrated for its more than 7,100 islands, the Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia that shares only with Madagascar the distinction of having been designated as both a Megadiverse Nation and a Global Biodiversity Conservation Hotspot. The terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the northeastern Philippines, specifically Luzon Island, has been the subject of intense interest since the first historical explorations. Historically, numerous works considered the biodiversity of Luzon as ?depauperate? in the sense that they was presumed to contain a reduced number of species shared with a continental mainland source. This view has persisted until recently, when a renewed interest in faunistic studies of the northern Philippines has produced a series of notable discoveries, drawing attention to high levels of species diversity and endemism in the northern reaches of the archipelago. We provide the first report on the herpetological biodiversity (amphibians and reptiles) of the northern Sierra Madre Mountain Range, northeast Luzon Island, Philippines. We combine new and historical data, and the results of recent fieldwork, to highlight at least 101 species present in this unique region of the archipelago. Not only is this fauna largely endemic (approximately 70%), but also our results add to a nascent body of literature suggesting that the northern portions of the archipelago may be substantially more diverse than currently appreciated.