Product Description

This newly designed field guides features detailed descriptions of 595 species and subspecies. The 656 full-color illustrations and 384 drawings show key details for accurate identification. More than 100 color photographs and 333 color photographs and 333 color distribution maps accompany the species descriptions.

---

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31716 in Books
• Published on: 1998-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 640 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780395904527
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
The first edition was published in 1958, the second in 1975. This third edition of the invaluable field guide features new information, color plates, and new maps. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) (Booknews )

About the Author
Joseph T. Collins has written more books about Kansas wildlife than any other person in the history of the state. He has published over 260 articles on reptiles, turtles, amphibians, and fishes throughout North America and has written twenty-three books, among them:

Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians

of Eastern and Central North America Third Edition

(with Roger Conant)

The three editions of this guide were the greatest-selling books on amphibians, turtles, reptiles, and crocodilians ever written

Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians

of Eastern and Central North America Third Edition Expanded

(with Roger Conant)

Isabelle Hunt Conant is a contributor for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt titles including: Peterson Field Guides: Reptitles and Amphibians

Roger Conant (May 6, 1909–December 19, 2003) was an American herpetologist, author, educator and conservationist. He was Director Emeritus of the Philadelphia Zoo and Adjunct Professor at the University of New Mexico. He wrote one of the first comprehensive field guides for North American reptiles in 1958 entitled: Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of the Eastern United States.

Tom R. Johnson is a contributor for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt titles including: Peterson Field Guides: Reptitles and Amphibians.

Roger Tory Peterson, one of the world"s greatest naturalists, received every major award for ornithology, natural science, and conservation, as well as numerous honorary degrees, medals, and citations, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Peterson Identification System has been called the greatest invention since binoculars, and the Peterson Field Guides® are credited with helping to set the stage for the environmental movement.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE Pls. 3, 9
Macroclemys temminckii
IDENTIFICATION: 15–26 in. (38–66 cm); record 311?2 in. (80 cm).
Weight 35–150 lbs. (16–68 kg); record 251 lbs. (113.9 kg) for a
specimen maintained in captivity for nearly 50 years; 316 lbs. (143.3
kg) for a wild-caught example. Look for the huge head with its
strongly hooked beaks, the prominent dorsal keels, and the extra row
of scutes on each side of the carapace. Likely to be confused only
with Snapping Turtles. Young (Pl. 3): Brown, shell exceedingly rough;
tail very long. About 11?4–13?4 in. (3–4.4 cm) at hatching.
This gigantic freshwater turtle, our largest and one of the
largest in the world, often lies at bottom of lake or river with
mouth held open. A curious pink process on floor of mouth resembles a
worm, wriggles like one, and serves as a lure for fish. similar
species: Snapping Turtle has a saw-toothed tail and a smaller head,
and also lacks the extra row of scutes be-tween costals and
marginals. range: Sw. Ga. and n. Fla. to e. Texas; north in
Mississippi Valley to Kans., Iowa, and sw. Ky.; an isolated record in
cen. Tenn.

---

Customer Reviews

A useful and beautiful book for the amateur naturalist.
As a casual amateur watcher of frogs, turtles, snakes, and lizard-like beasts, I recommend the Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North American. The first part of the book consists of 48 colour plates, each illustrating about 10 similar species. Following the plates, the main part of the book consists of a very readable summary description of each species, together with a map showing its geographical range. Special line drawings illustrate particular features of some of the species, that help in their identification, and add to the reader's appreciation. The volume is well-indexed, and includes a glossary, and a reference list. It is sturdily bound in an attractive cover. I am writing this at a computer in a cold northern January, and I look forward to the spring and summer when I can sortie into the open spaces with my Guide, to enjoy a renewed appreciation of these marvellous creatures. Search as I might, I cannot find anything negative to write about this beautiful book.

The most accurate and authoratative field guide available.
Beautiful color photographs, realistic paintings of each species illustrating diagnostic characteristics, and wonderful accounts on each form, from two of the most respected herpetologists to ever live. The color maps are not as good as the original black and white versions, but color photographs by the foremost authority on North American wildlife photography, more than make up for this. The maps are still better than those used in any field guide covering the same geographic area. Every kid should have at least one.

Bible of Amphibians and Reptiles of this region
This book was my bible as a boy. For anyone who enjoys watching small creatures in their natural habitats, the life-histories of amphibians and reptiles can be very enjoyable. This book is educational and extremely comprehensive. Even after moving to Europe, I kept my copy of this book, purely for sentimental value (none of the species from back home are to be found over here).

The book is written for those who want a lot of information, yet it is accessible for anyone from a very inquisitive boy or girl, through to university students who want to identify species in the wild. (I know, I used my copy from the age of ten to twenty-five on countless field trips and excursions.)

It's sturdy and affordable, especially considering the amount of information it contains. There are many b/w illustrations within the text showing specific identifying features, and a nice set of colour and black and white plates. More useful than Audubon, if you like these peaceful little animals this book will be with you for a long time.