Description Table of Contents Details Authors Reviews

Description

The fourth edition of the textbook Herpetology covers the basic biology of amphibians and reptiles, with updates in nearly every conceptual area. Not only does it serve as a solid foundation for modern herpetology courses, but it is also relevant to courses in ecology, behavior, evolution, systematics, and morphology.

Examples taken from amphibians and reptiles throughout the world make this book a useful herpetology textbook in several countries. Naturalists, amateur herpetologists, herpetoculturists, zoo professionals, and many others will find this book readable and full of relevant natural history and distributional information.

Amphibians and reptiles have assumed a central role in research because of the diversity of ecological, physiological, morphological, behavioral, and evolutionary patterns they exhibit. This fully revised edition brings the latest research to the reader, ranging over topics in evolution, reproduction, behavior and more, allowing students and professionals to keep current with a quickly moving field.

Key Features

  • Heavily revised and updated with discussion of squamate (lizard and snake) taxonomy and new content reflected in current literature
  • Includes increased focus on conservation biology in herpetology while retaining solid content on organismal biology of reptiles and amphibians
  • Presents new photos included from authors' extensive library

Readership

Advanced undergraduate/graduate students studying biology, wildlife and organismal biology and taking courses in herpetology; amphibian and reptile biologists, ecologists and conservation and evolutionary biologists, paleontologists

Table of Contents

Part I Evolutionary History

1. Tetrapod Relationships and Evolutionary Systematics

2. Anatomy of Amphibians and Reptiles

3. Evolution of Ancient and Modern Amphibians and Reptiles

Part II Reproduction and Reproductive Modes

4. Reproduction and Life Histories

5. Reproductive Modes

Part III Physiological Ecology

6. Water Balance and Gas Exchange

7. Thermoregulation, Performance, and Energetics

Part IV Behavioral Ecology

8. Spacing, Movements, and Orientation

9. Communication and Social Behavior

10. Foraging Ecology and Diets

11. Defense and Escape

Part V Ecology, Biogeography, and Conservation Biology

12. Ecology

13. Biogeography and Phylogeography

14. Conservation Biology

Part VI Classification and Diversity of Amphibians

15. Caecilians

16. Salamanders

17. Frogs

Part VII Classification and Diversity of Reptiles

18. Turtles

19. Crocodylians

20. Sphenodontidans

21. Squamates (Snakes and Lizards)

Part VIII Data Sources

Bibliography

Glossary

Taxonomic Index

Subject Index

Details

No. of pages:
776
Language:
English
Copyright:
© 2013
Published:
Imprint:
Academic Press
eBook ISBN:
9780123869203
Print ISBN:
9780123869197

About the authors

Laurie Vitt

Dr. Vitt is a reptile ecologist who received his Ph.D. from Arizona Sate University in 1976. He was a Professor at UCLA for 8 years and Professor and Curator at the Sam Noble Museum at the University of Oklahoma for 21 years. He currently maintains Emeritus status. He has had extensive field experience in American deserts and New World tropics, especially Brazil. He has published more than 250 research articles and 8 books. Awards include appointment as a George Lynn Cross Research Professor at the University of Oklahoma, membership in the Brazilian Academy of Scientists, Distinguished Alumnus (Western Washington University), Distinguished Herpetologist (Herpetologist League), and two book awards.

Affiliations and Expertise

Sam Noble Museum and Biology Department University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma

Janalee Caldwell

Dr. Caldwell is an amphibian biologist who received her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1974. She was a Professor of Biology and Curator at the Sam Noble Museum at the University of Oklahoma for 21 years, where she received recognition for outstanding research. She is now Professor Emeritus and Curator Emeritus. Dr. Caldwell conducted field research in tropical forests in Brazil and other South American countries that resulted in publication of numerous scientific articles. She served as President of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and as editor of several scientific journals. She participated is various projects with the goal of encouraging young people, especially girls, to choose careers in science.

Affiliations and Expertise

Sam Noble Museum and Biology Department University of Oklahoma Norman, Oklahoma

Reviews

"In this fourth edition of their herpetology textbook, Vitt and Caldwell have broken the subject down into six main parts comprised of 22 chapters. The first three parts cover evolutionary history, reproductive schemes, and physiology… Part four covers behavioral topics such as foraging, defense strategies, and communication, while part  five is devoted to ecology, conservation and geographical distribution of species. Part six breaks down the classification system used for amphibians and reptiles covering all major subgroups  such as frogs, salamanders, snakes, etc…"--Reference & Research Book News, December 2013
"Many of the new insights into the understanding of reptile and amphibian biology have been updated in this edition resulting in its increased size and making it a great value… This book will be an excellent addition to the library of anyone interested in herpetology."--Journal of American Veterinary Medicine Association, December 15, 2013
"Is this the best herpetology textbook available? Yes. Will I use it in my one semester course for upper-level undergraduates? Yes, this book will challenge them and would certainly also be suitable for a graduate course. Is it worth having students buy the new (4th) edition over the 3rd? Yes, updates to the content and to the references cited and enhancement of illustrations are worth it."--Phyllomedusa, December 2013

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