The first volume contains species accounts of the venomous lizards and elapid and viperid snakes found north of Mexico's twenty-fifth parallel. Volume two covers the twenty-one species of rattlesnakes found in the United States, Canada, and northern Mexico.
Texas has about one hundred twenty native species and subspecies of snakes, fifteen of which are venomous. Since 1950, Texans have turned to the Poisonous Snakes of Texas pamphlet series published by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for help in identifying these snakes and for expert advice on preventing and treating snakebite. Venomous Snakes of Texas, a thoroughly revised and updated edition of Poisonous Snakes, carries on this tradition as a one-stop, all-you-need-to-know guide to Texas's rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes. In this authoritative field guide, you'll find: Full-color photographs and a county-by-county distribution map for each species. Each species' common and scientific name, description, look-alikes, and a summary sketch of its habitat, behavior, reproduction, venom characteristics, predator-prey relationships, and fossil record. Up-to-date advice on recognizing venomous snakes and preventing and treating snakebite, both at home and in the field. A glossary of terms and an extensive bibliography. A special feature of this guide is an expanded treatment of the ecological and evolutionary context in which venomous snakes live, which supports Price's goal "to lessen the hatred and fear and to increase the understanding, the respect, and even the appreciation with which venomous snakes should be regarded."
IN THIS REVISED edition of Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas, James R. Dixon adds to and updates the extensive information given in the first edition. A new section on conservation issues highlights some of the problems facing the continued survival of amphibians and reptiles, particularly commercial collecting and habitat destruction. Taxonomic changes have been made to reflect the latest scientific information, and the extensive listing of the literature on Texas amphibians and reptiles has been updated through April, 1999. Going back to the writings of French botanist Jean Louis Berlandier, who encountered Texas herpetofauna during his travels from 1828 to 1834, this list covers more than 150 years of inquiry into the state's species and is also testimony to the distinguished careers of such herpetologists as Hobart M. Smith and, more recently, Chris McAllister. Another prominent feature of this book is the more than 150 distribution maps, which show by county the updated distribution records for all native Texas amphibians and reptiles, based on more than 13,000 county records and more than 110,000 individual localities. Professional and amateur herpetologists as well as environmentalists, wildlife specialists, campers, and hikers will find the dichotomous keys useful for identifying species at hand. This aid to identification is supported by a glossary, drawings and photographs, and complete scientific and common names.