Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles

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.

ISBN 0121979555   DEWEY edition DC21 ISBN13 9780121979553 (What's this?)   Pages 493 Publisher Elsevier Science & Technology   Volumes 1 Imprint Academic Press Inc   Weight (grammes) 871 Format Hardback   Published in Oxford Publication date 02 Jun 1999   Height (mm) 229 Non-book description xxx, 495 p., 8 p. of plates :   Width (mm) 152 Writer of preface Crother, Brian I.   Spine width (mm) 29 Library of Congress QL656.A1 C   Academic level Professional / Scholarly DEWEY 597.909729

		Contributors
		Foreword
		Preface
		Acknowledgments
		Legends to Color Plates
1		Over 300 Years of Collecting in the Caribbean by Ernest Williams
2		A Review of Cuban Herpetology by Alberto R. Estrada and Rodolpho Ruibal
3		Jamaica by Ronald I. Crombie
4		The Hispaniolan Herpetofauna: Diversity, Endemism, and Historical Perspectives, with Comments on Navassa Island by Robert Powell and Jose A. Ottenwalder and Sixto J. Inchaustegui
5		The Puerto Rico Area by Richard Thomas
6		The Lesser Antillean Fauna by Ellen J. Censky and Hinrich Kaiser
7		West Indian Herpetoecology by Robert W. Henderson and Robert Powell
8		Evolutionary Relationships by Brian I. Crother
9		Ecological and Historical Biogeography by Gregory K. Pregill and Brian I. Crother
10		The West Indies and Middle America: Contrasting Origins and Diversity by William E. Duellman
		References		371
		Systematic Index		475

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

 Be the first to write a customer review