The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica

The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica

Author: Jay M. Savage

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2002-08

Total Pages: 1076

ISBN-13: 9780226735375

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World-renowned for its biological diversity and model conservation system, Costa Rica is home to a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles, from the golden toad to the scorpion lizard to the black-headed bushmaster. Jay M. Savage has studied these fascinating creatures for more than forty years, and in The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica he provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date treatment of their biology and evolution ever produced. Costa Rica has played, and continues to play, a pivotal role in the study of tropical biology as well as the development of ecotourism and ecoprospecting, in part because more than half of the amphibians and reptiles in Costa Rica are also found elsewhere in Central America. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica will be an essential book for a wide audience of nature lovers, naturalists, ecotourists, field biologists, conservationists, government planners, and those interested in Central America more generally. "Written for the enthusiast as well as for the field researcher, this work is an excellent reference source for each of the 396 species of amphibians and reptiles that can be found in Costa Rica. Includes complete full-color photographs of all known species in the region, as well as maps showing their distribution patterns. . . . A must-have book for any library with interests in this subject area."—J. Elliott, Southeastern Naturalist


The Diversity of Amphibians and Reptiles

The Diversity of Amphibians and Reptiles

Author: John L. Cloudsley-Thompson

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 3642600050

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An introduction to the evolution and adaptation of amphibians and reptiles, bridging the gulf between the plethora of 'popular' books and the more advanced texts directed towards the needs of specialist research workers, thus making it accessible to advanced students worldwide. It explains basic principles in non-technical terms, and covers the adaptive responses to natural selection which have engendered the diversity of forms that exist in the fossil record and are found in the world today. The book also includes the extinct forms such as dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, and concludes with a dsicussion of relationships with mankind and the preservation of diversity. XXXXXXX Neuer Text This title is an introduction to the evolution and adaptation of amphibians and reptiles, which is accessible to a wide range of readers. Basic principles are explained in non-technical terms, and the adaptive responses to natural selection which have engendered the diversity of forms that exist in the fossil record and that are found in the world today are covered. In the concluding chapter, the relationship between mankind and the preservation of diversity is discussed.