Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois

Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois

Author: Christopher A. Phillips

Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Published: 2022-06-28

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 0252053257

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The second edition of the Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois offers up-to-date information on the state’s 102 species of frogs and toads, salamanders, turtles, lizards, and snakes. Detailed descriptions by the authors include habitats, distinguishing features, behaviors, and other facts, while revised range maps and full-color photographs help users recognize animals in the field. In addition, an identification key and easy-to-navigate page layouts guide readers through extensive background material on each species' population, diet, predators, reproduction, and conservation status. A one-of-a-kind resource, the Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois is a definitive guide aimed at biologists, teachers, students, wildlife specialists, natural resource managers, conservationists, law enforcement officials, landowners, hobbyists, and everyone else eager to explore herpetology and nature in the Prairie State.


Amphibians and Reptiles of the Chicago Area

Amphibians and Reptiles of the Chicago Area

Author: Clifford H. Pope

Publisher:

Published: 2023-12-04

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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Amphibians and Reptiles of the Chicago Area, first published in 1947, is the classic work on the snakes, frogs, salamanders, turtles, and other "herps" of the Chicago region. Illustrated throughout with detailed drawings and organized into the major groups (Amphibians: Salamanders and Frogs; Reptiles: Lizards, Snakes, and Turtles), each species found in the region is described, with extensive information on its life-history, habitat requirements, and food preferences. Author Clifford Pope (1899-1974) was a prominent American herpetologist who was curator of the Amphibian and Reptile Division of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.


Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, Adder's Fork and Lizard's Leg

Eye of Newt and Toe of Frog, Adder's Fork and Lizard's Leg

Author: Marty Crump

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2015-11-16

Total Pages: 329

ISBN-13: 022611600X

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Recent estimates suggest that nearly 3 million people in the US alone keep an amphibian or reptile as a pet. YouTube videos with odes to cane toads are ubiquitous. And yet amphibians and reptiles also keep extermination companies in business, and are reviled by many. These emotions pose great challenges to the conservation of these species, just as their populations in the natural world are in great decline. It can be quite hard to inspire stewardship of a tomato toad in the same way that one can more generally charismatic fauna like pandas and polar bears. In response, herpetologists have created large-scale programs such as Amphibian Ark, the umbrella organization behind the Year of the Frog campaign, http: //www.amphibianark.org/, to educate and enthrall citizens with the charm of the more slimy species of the planet. Few herpetologists have contributed more to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles than Marty Crump, a renowned expert on declining amphibians. This manuscript is her ode to the toad, a masterful compilation of science and narrative centering on human relations with amphibians and reptiles across the globe. An intrepid explorer and skilled writer, Crump has gathered stories and myths and paired them with natural history to give a wonderful view of how essential amphibians and reptiles are to our well being. Using symbolism, folklore, and science, the manuscript also explores the conservation consequences of our complicated amorous and vexed affair with snakes, frogs, toads and other herpetofauna.


Snakes of the Eastern United States

Snakes of the Eastern United States

Author: Whit Gibbons

Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Published: 2017-04-15

Total Pages: 426

ISBN-13: 0820349704

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More than sixty species of snakes are found in the eastern United States, the region of highest biodiversity of all reptiles and amphibians in North America. In this brand new guide, stunning photographs, colorful geographic range maps, and comprehensive written accounts provide essential information about each species—including detailed identification characteristics, general ecology and behavior, and conservation status. Carefully researched and written by an expert herpetologist, the guide is directed toward a general audience interested in natural history. Additional information supports the already fact-filled snake species profiles. A chapter on urban and suburban snake ecology focuses on species most commonly found in some of the country’s largest cities and residential settings. A chapter on snake conservation includes information on threats faced by native species in many regions of the eastern United States. Another chapter provides the latest updates on the status of invasive species of pythons and boa constrictors that have now become naturalized permanent residents in certain areas of the country. This is the most accessible and informative guide to snakes of the eastern United States available anywhere. Covers snakes in these states (plus Washington, DC): Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Features: More than 385 stunning color photographsColorful geographic range mapsSpecies accounts that cover identification, general ecology and behavior, and conservation statusExtra information on snakes in urban and suburban areasStrong conservation message, with a focus on environmental threats to native speciesCoverage of invasive snakes


Snake Road

Snake Road

Author: Joshua J. Vossler

Publisher:

Published: 2020-12-07

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9780809338054

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"This book includes photographs and descriptions of the twenty-three snake species that may be found at Snake Road, as well as notes about their physical characteristics and the likelihood of seeing a particular species on a single trip"--


Exploring Nature in Illinois

Exploring Nature in Illinois

Author: Michael Jeffords

Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Published: 2014-05-15

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 0252096266

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Loaded with full color photographs and evocative descriptions, Exploring Nature in Illinois provides a panorama of the state's overlooked natural diversity. Naturalists Michael Jeffords and Susan Post explore fifty preserves, forests, restoration areas, and parks, bringing an expert view to wildlife and landscapes and looking beyond the obvious to uncover the unexpected beauty of Illinois's wild places. From the colorful variety of birds at War Bluff Valley Audubon Sanctuary to the exposed bedrock and cliff faces of Apple River Canyon, Exploring Nature in Illinois will inspire readers to explore wonders hidden from urban sprawl and cultivated farmland. Maps and descriptions help travelers access even hard-to-find sites while a wealth of detail and photography offers nature-lovers insights into the flora, fauna, and other aspects of vibrant settings and ecosystems. The authors also include diary entries describing their own impressions of and engagement with the sites. A unique and much-needed reference, Exploring Nature in Illinois will entertain and enlighten hikers, cyclers, students and scouts, morning walkers, weekend drivers, and anyone else seeking to get back to nature in the Prairie State.