Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles - Hardcover

9780121979553: Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0121979555 ISBN 13: 9780121979553

Publisher: Academic Press Inc, 1999

Amphibians and reptiles are the most numerous, diverse, and frequently encountered animals on the Caribbean islands. This book provides a variety of perspectives on this amazing group of organisms. Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles, compiled by an international team of zoologists, takes a fresh and detailed look at the complex biological puzzle of the Caribbean. The first true overview of the islands, it includes a historical examination of the people who have studied the Caribbean amphibians and reptiles. The book reviews the ecology, evolutionary history, and biogeographic explanations for the origins and diversity of the region's fauna with island-by-island coverage. It puts the Caribbean in perspective by comparing the islands to Central America and its amphibian reptile diversity. Additionally, the book includes figures, tables, and color plates which bring to life some of the region's most spectacular creatures.

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Review:

This volume is dedicated to Dr. Albert Schwartz (1923-1992)in recognition of his incredible scientific accomplishments in Caribbean herpetology. ...I believe that this interesting book is an appropriate tribute to the amazing career of Albert Schwartz and will serve as a benchmark for years to come... --Richard Franz, University of Florida, for COPEIA (2000) The most complete review of the literature on the ecology and evolutionary history of amphibians and reptiles of the Caribbean, to date. ...An excellent reference book for herpetologists, ecologists, and conservation biologists interested in the region. --NORTHEASTERN NATURALIST (2000) An excellent, well-written source book... --CHOICE (December 1999) ...a valuable tool for herpetologists interested in the Caribbean. --BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

About the Author:

Brian I. Crother received his B.A. from California State University at Dominguez Hills and his Ph.D. from the University of Miami, Florida, where he was a Maytag Fellow. His doctoral work involved studying the evolutionary history of Caribbean snakes. He continued his evolutionary history work at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was also curator of the reptile and amphibian collection at the Texas Memorial Museum. He is now an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Southeastern Louisiana University. He has published numerous technical papers and book chapters and is the Editor of Herpetological Monographs. He has also been listed in the National Who s Who of Teachers and has received extramural funding of his research from several sources, including the Jesse Noyes Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

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