The Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State: Identification, Natural History, and Conservation - Softcover

Gibbs, James P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195304446 ISBN 13: 9780195304442

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 2007

Synopsis

This is the first guide yet produced to the amphibians and reptiles of New York State, a large and heavily populated state that hosts a surprisingly diverse and interesting community of amphibians and reptiles. This much needed guide to the identification, distribution, natural history and conservation of the amphibians and reptiles of New York State fill a long-empty niche.

The book is the first comprehensive presentation of the distributional data gathered for the New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas project. With more than 60,000 records compiled from 1990-1999, this extraordinary and up-to-date database provides a rich foundation for the book. This volume provides detailed narratives on the 69 species native to New York State. With a heavy emphasis on conservation biology, the book also includes chapters on threats, legal protections, habitat conservation guidelines, and conservation case studies.

Also included are 67 distribution maps and 62 pages of color photographs contributed by more than 30 photographers. As a field guide or a desk reference, The Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State is indispensable for anyone interested in the vertebrate animals of the Northeast, as well as students, field researchers and natural resource professionals.

About this title

Review:

"A long awaited, much-needed guide to the herpetofauna of a state at the crossroads of north and south."--CHOICE

"Read, and own, this fine book and learn how to find and help protect your herp friends."--The Independent

"Will do much towards teaching New Yorkers and their neighbors about their herpetofauna and will hopefully open their eyes to the many threats these animals face in modern times. The suggestions provided here to protect and conserve the habitats of these animals will go a long way to ensure that New York will not lose these species to statewide extinction." --Joseph C. Mitchell, University of Richmond

"The authors of this solid book combine a huge amount of experience and together probably have more expertise than those of any other state guide. I particularly enjoyed the sections on the history of herpetology studies in New York State and the nods to the urban herpetofauna of New York City. The book is explicitly oriented toward people who want to identify specimens they've encountered and learn more about the animals in their area." --Russell Burke, Hofstra University

"Gibbs offers a long-awaited, much-needed guide to the herpetofauna of a state at the crossroads of north and south."--Choice

"Species descriptions are marvelously detailed, putting their field-guide forbears to shame. Every time I pick up this handsome volume, and I do often since it arrived in my office, I stand in awe of its clever, user-friendly organization."--Adirondack Explorer

"Read, and own, this fine book and learn how to find and help protect your herp friends."--The Independent

"Will do much towards teaching New Yorkers and their neighbors about their herpetofauna and will hopefully open their eyes to the many threats these animals face in modern times. The suggestions provided here to protect and conserve the habitats of these animals will go a long way to ensure that New York will not lose these species to statewide extinction." --Joseph C. Mitchell, University of Richmond

"The authors of this solid book combine a huge amount of experience and together probably have more expertise than those of any other state guide. I particularly enjoyed the sections on the history of herpetology studies in New York State and the nods to the urban herpetofauna of New York City. The book is explicitly oriented toward people who want to identify specimens they've encountered and learn more about the animals in their area." --Russell Burke, Hofstra University

"Eastern Canadian naturalists will find this book a must for their bookshelves as an excellent reference not just to the species included, but also for the conservation approaches and philosophy."--The Canadian Field-Naturalist

Synopsis:

This book has three primary themes: identification, natural history, and conservation. This is the first guide yet produced to the amphibians and reptiles of New York State, a large and heavily populated state that hosts a surprisingly diverse and interesting community of amphibians and reptiles. The book presents the results of the New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas for the first time (a compilation of ~60,000 distributional records collected 1990-1999); thus, the volume is a repository for detailed distributional data on the 69 species native to the state. The book presents in-depth species accounts based on the six authors' decades of collective experience as teachers, researchers and conservationists. Supporting chapters focus on the biology of amphibians and reptiles, New York's environment, finding and studying these creatures, and the rich folklore of New York State as it pertains to amphibians and reptiles, particularly rattlesnakes. A heavy emphasis on conservation biology of amphibians and reptiles sets the book apart from any comparable volume yet produced in the United States.

To this end, chapters on threats, legal protections, habitat conservation guidelines, and conservation case studies are presented. An expanded color insert presents striking photographs contributed by over 30 photographers. The book is intended for use by natural history buffs generally interested in the vertebrate animals of New York and adjoining regions (Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, Quebec and Ontario), students in the many herpetology, vertebrate biology, and natural history courses offered at colleges and field stations in the northeast, public and college libraries, and natural resource professionals interested in learning more about approaches to conserving reptiles and amphibians.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0195304446
• ISBN 13: 9780195304442
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 438