Book Description
Since the publication of The Venomous Reptiles of Latin America by Cornell University Press in 1989, scientific discoveries and taxonomic changes have resulted in the addition of many taxa and species to the herpetological fauna of the Western Hemisphere. This updated, heavily rewritten, and greatly expanded version of that book now includes accounts of all 192 species of venomous snakes and lizards found in the Western Hemisphere. This two-volume set is illustrated with stunning color photographs, including portraits of venomous reptiles (many of which are unique in showing newly discovered species and views of male, female, and juvenile individuals); images of snakebites, an important tool for diagnosis and treatment; color vegetation and topographic maps; black-and-white photographs; line figures; and completely revised distribution maps.
Volume I includes a list of tables, preface, introduction, and regional/country accounts with related bilingual identification keys and vegetation and topographic maps. Genus and species accounts in this volume treat the lizards, coralsnakes, seasnakes, and all the pitvipers except rattlesnakes; these accounts are accompanied by color photographs of each species. Volume I also contains a complete index to both volumes.
Volume II includes descriptions of all known species of rattlesnakes. It also features four chapters by experts on mimicry, evolution, and snakebite treatment in tropical and temperate America. A glossary, literature-cited section, and index serve both volumes. Color photographs portray rattlesnakes, mimics, and the damage done by snakebite.
The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere, Volumes I and II is an essential reference for all naturalists interested in herpetology--amateurs impressed by the beauty and complexity of venomous reptiles as well as professional herpetologists and their students conducting research in the classroom, at the zoo, and in the field.
Customer Reviews:
venomous reptiles of the western hemesphere.......2007-01-12
Very informative. A must for herp students/amateur and pro keepers
One of the best, most comprehensive books regarding New World venomous reptiles!.......2005-10-05
What can be said about this beautiful set of books that hasn't been said...it is a MUST HAVE for any self-respecting amateur or professional herpetologist! These books go into great deal regarding the biology and evolution of New World venomous reptiles. There are well over 1000 full color plates, along with detailed descriptions of each of the over 200 venomous reptile species in the Western Hemisphere. Do yourself a favor and pick these up! Well worth every penny.
The Venomous Reptiles of Western Hemisphere.......2005-08-08
The best herpetology book series ever written. Extensive information on species, potency, treatment, and even localities. You will not need any other books until new editions are released. Hundreds of amazing photographs. Up to 15-20 per species.
Half the Worlds poisonous herps a bargain.......2004-07-24
This is a damn fine book(s)! The VRWH is an updated and expanded version of the out-of-print 1989 classic The Venomous Reptiles of Latin America. Expanded because it now includes all of North America; that's half the planet! If you can find a copy of the older version it will run you several hundred dollars, making this new version a bargain. I have never met Dr. Campbell but I have been fortunate enough to have spent time with Lamar in tropical forests on a couple of trips. Aside from their professorships Lamar also does field and consulting work with film crews and leads ecotours for his company Greentracks. My limited experience indicates that Lamar is truly a jungle character and an excellent field biologist. Campbell's career is quite extensive with both of these men racking up decades of herp work.
Venomous reptiles do not make up a single taxonomic group of reptiles but instead are a fascinating mix of lizards and snakes that follow the same evolutionary path of using venoms and toxins in self-defense and food capture. Venomous reptiles, snakes in particular, are frequently discussed distinctly due to their import in human fears and interactions. The main topics of this treatise are the world's two venomous lizard species, the coral snakes, and the pit vipers. We get keys to the venomous reptiles of Canada and North America, in both English and Spanish, as well as tables of geographic distribution by species and distribution by vegetation types. This format continues for Mexico, Central America, Caribbean islands, and South America all by individual countries.
Volume 1 continues with the taxon accounts beginning with the Helodermids. The only poisonous lizards, the famous Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard, are introduced by their original type descriptions and relevant natural history quotes from the world's literature. We then get an historical background of etymology and research, which leads us into the known natural history of the animals.
This format continues with the coral snakes in 3 genera and more than 70 described species. This chapter opens with numerous tables and figures to assist in identifying and distinguishing the various and similar species. Only a fool would rely on the old dictum, "Red touch yellow, you're a dead fellow. Red touch black, it's ok Jack". There is a huge amount of natural history information including Spanish, local, and common names of the snakes. Just about everything relating to these snakes is mentioned, from habitat preference, feeding, breeding, physiology, and toxicology are discussed. There are distribution maps, scale patterns, line drawings, and black & white photos all illustrating important taxonomic traits.
The taxonomically more challenging pitvipers are then discussed. Campbell and Lamar currently recognize 12 genera with 111 described species. As all things taxonomic this recognition is in a constant state of flux as new information and data become available. There is a surprisingly open discussion to potential problems with the phylogenetic placement of these groups but there needs to be a baseline from which to work from and this current arrangement seems most valid. In fact this type of debate and historical placement and naming of groups is one of my favorite aspects of this book. As an amateur herper I only delve into these groups on occasion. Campbell and Lamar's discussions allow me to play catch-up on current taxonomic argument and naming without having to track down the myriad of published papers swaying favor back and forth.
Volume 2 begins with the rattlesnakes and closing with a number of non-venomous mimics as well as some less dangerously venomous snakes found in other families. Following are chapters on venomous snake mimicry, New World venomous snake evolution, and venom poisoning, toxinology, and symptomology contributed by various authors.
I don't have much in the way of critique for this book other to say that it seems apparent that this was written for a specific audience and that audience being biologists or fairly well versed dedicated amateurs. For example, the chapter on the lizards tells us there are 2 venomous species but does not immediately introduce them as Heloderma suspectum and H. horridum nor does it initially correlate the common names of Gila monster and beaded lizard, respectively. The introduction to these lizards details the generic distribution and speaks of their range overlap using common names and throughout the generic introduction there is alternating use of the common names and scientific names. Granted most herpetologists are familiar enough with these lizards to recognize what the authors are speaking of but neophytes may have difficulty distinguishing to which species they are referring too without flipping pages ahead to clear themselves.
The chapter on coral snakes mentions the important patterns of rings called monads and triads without fully explaining them. The glossary helps but without diagrams these definitions are fuzzy. Are these criticisms oversights or assumptions that the reader is already knowledgeable? I suspect the latter as the text is concise and well written.
Like the previous edition this one is sure to become a classic. Even though this text was finally released in April I have read several scientific journal articles citing this book. That should be ample testament to its research potential. The photos are wonderful and highly descriptive as well as artistic. One look at the covers, Volume 1 with my personal favorite coral snake Micrurus langsdorffi and Volume 2 with the awesome bushmaster Lachesis stenophrys, are enough to elicit excitement. And does Lamar look ever so distinguished in his author photo. As most of these scientific texts have limited marketing potential they are usually limited to first run prints of limited editions. If that is the case with this one, don't miss your chance to pick up a copy. At $150 it's a bargain. You'll kick yourself when you're later trying to chase down a used copy at twice that price. Did I mention the literature cited section is 100 pages?!
Great!.......2004-04-22
I am still reading the book, but I can say that everything inside is great. The format is very similar to the one used in the first version, but I found a lot new information about the venomous reptiles of all America. It is helping me with valuable information in a review that I am doing about all the venomous animals in America.
For everyone that knows the first version, I can say that this one has updated information and excellent images. For the ones who never knew the first version, I can say this is the best book you can find about venemous snakes and lizards in our hemisphere.
This is the best contribution to understand and appreciate the marvelous world of the venomous animals.
Book Description
Most people would feel a great loss if elephants, rhinos, or gorillas were to become extinct, but would we willingly move our families, change our means of earning a living, and disrupt our culture to prevent their extinction? People living in rural Africa are being asked to do just this by the world community. The Myth of Wild Africa explores a joint African/Western approach to conservation with the goal of returning control to the African nations.
Customer Reviews:
Love African and Animals? Read this book.......2003-07-30
This is a balanced perspective and an easy read. It isn't blindly save all animals nor allow shooting of all species. It speaks to Africa for Africans as a theme.
Not some heady tome, but a thoughtful approach to how to conserve wildlife in Africa.
I read before going to Botswana, my 4th trip to Africa, and found it stimulating and very useful. Particularly timely given the new white colonialism one sees in Africa trying to run wildlife camps, foster religious growth, etc.
A must read before your next safari.
Shames them all.......2000-08-14
This book was eye-opening. I've been reading about sub-Saharan Africa for the past two months and this is the best book of analysis I've read so far. It criticizes some of the other books I've read such as Cry of the Kalahari and Gorillas in the Mist for being short-sighted in their conservation dreams.
This book brings up the need to incorporate people into conservation and the failure of vast stretches of land dedicated to being a national park in countries where people aren't well fed.
By numerous critiques of programs considered to be at the forefront of convervation and analyses of policy in countries that include Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Naimbia, Rwanda, Gabon, Malawi, Zimbabwae, Zambia and Uganda Adams and McShane eloquently show that one policy of conservation doesn't work everywhere.
If are interested in wildlife conservation this book is a must. If you are persuaded by National Geographic movies this is a must. If you want to gain insight into the types of creative policies needed for wildlife areas in Africa and perhaps other tropical countries, this book is a must.
One of the best I've read all summer.
Great examination of conservation issues in Africa........1999-06-04
A great book for anyone interested in conservation in Africa. This is not, however, a book that promotes saving wildlife at all costs but instead looks at the issues surrounding conservation and the difficult issues that are involved in it. The book challenges the western-driven modes of conservation that have been in place for the past century. A must for anyone going on safari or anyone that works in the field of conservation.
Book Description
This is an essential guide for anyone with an interest in wildlife who visits Africa--from the tourist on safari to the more experienced naturalist. Compact and beautifully illustrated, it is ideal for use in the field, while its coverage is the most comprehensive for any book of its size.
- First pocket guide to cover every species of terrestrial African mammal
- Adapted from the highly acclaimed Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals
- Fully illustrated with the author's superb color artwork
- Easy-to-read distribution maps
- Concise text and clear layout for quick, easy reference
- Practical format makes it ideal for use in the field
Customer Reviews:
African Mammals Book.......2007-09-29
It is a good book...diagrams are detailed well and descriptions are good of the animals....good guide book for college classes.
If Kingdon or Estes say it, believe it !!.......2007-06-27
Excellent information if studying. Kingdon is an excellent source of CORRECT information when it comes to African animals.
The Best Guide for Field Use in Africa!.......2006-08-05
This compact little guide is a condensed version of The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals by the same author. That book is easily the best overview of African mammals, with detailed info on each species/genus, but it is not really practical for use as a field guide (see my review of it).
This book contains the same illustrations arranged in a format that makes them handier for actual identification in the field.
It is very comprehensive, covering every single species of African mammals with the exception of bats, rodents, insectivores, elephant-shrews and hyrraxes, which are usually represented by one species for each genus. But every single genus is represented, and of rodents, every species of squirrel is dealt with separately.
Maps and brief info on distribution and ecology of each taxon is now to be found on the pages facing the illustrutions.
The latter are a mixed bag, as in the original work: while most are quite good, even excellent and life-like, others are quite awful, either showing animals with stiff, straight limbs/bodies as if drawn with a ruler (like the Crowned Monkey) or in highly unnatural positions (like the Potto with the limbs twisted out, or the Cheetah standing up like a circus horse).
All things considered, this is easily the best field guide to mammals of Africa, though for more in-depth information on each taxon, you may still want to have the original book in addition to this one.
Customer Reviews:
Paradise.......2004-07-16
A good book for a very small area. Excellent colour photographs.
Informative, and interesting.......1999-04-22
This is a great book focusing on northern Guatemala, southern Yucatan and Belize. It has great pictures, and some excellent text on identifing characteristics, with a key in the back. I will be using it in the Carmen del Playa and Merida areas, and will let you know how I feel about it after the trip.
The area map is not the best, but that is a minor problem. You ought to have a map of your own anyway.
Book Description
Jonathan Kingdon, one of the foremost authorities on African mammals, has written and illustrated this new field guide which sets new standards in African mammalogy. The author covers all the known species of African land mammal in a concise text providing full information on identification, distribution, ecology, evolutionary relationships, and conservation status. The focus is always on the mammals as seen in the field and on their ecology and evolutionary interrelationships. Introductory profiles summarize the characteristics of the various mammal groups, and the author simplifies many of the more complex groups of mammals by referencing genera. Twelve newly recognized species of bushbaby, fourteen newly named baboons, guenons, and mangabeys and nine newly described colobus monkeys contribute to a modern treatment of the monkeys. New species of bats, rodents, and fox as well as a fully revised listing of the duikers, squirrels and genets are included. Kingdon combines his long personal experience of life in Africa and his artistic talent with the best that modern natural history and biological science can offer. With over 480 color pictures and 280 maps covering some 1,100 mammal species, this book is an essential companion to all visiting Africa or with an interest in the mammals of the continent.
Key Features:
* Employs the most up-to-date classification and lists all 1,150 known species
* Focuses on mammals as seen in the field and in their evolutionary interrelationships
Customer Reviews:
An excellent book for wildlife study.......2007-06-08
This book is beautifully illustrated and the text explains clearly the animals life style, habitat and diet. Brilliant.
A must for African Animal lovers.......2007-04-11
Having seen a dilapidated old copy of this book in the hands of our safari guide,in Tanzania whose knowledge was unbelievable, we just had to have one when we got home.The information contained is unsurpassed.Kingdon's research into the genetic background and the locations of the animals is amazing.Illustrations,diagrams etc. very reader friendly. A great book.
About the Best Currently, but Could Be Improved.......2004-06-17
First let me say that in general I find this book excellent, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in the mammalian fauna of Africa.
It is very comprehensive, covering every single species of African mammals with the exception of bats, rodents, insectivores, elephant-shrews and hyrraxes, which are usually represented by one species for each genus. But every single genus is represented, and of rodents, every species of squirrel is dealt with separately.
The information accompanying each species is very detailed and appears up to date.
Now for the shortcomings:
1) The illustrations are next to the description of each species. Given how detailed/long the texts are, this means that usually there are just 1 or 2 species shown on each page, so to compare all antelopes you must look through a hundred pages or so - not very practical in a field guide!
2) Maps are often pages away from the text and illustration, with no reference to their whereabouts. I often thought there was no map for a species/genus, only to find it pages away, combined with the map for another taxon.
3) While illustrations are identified by the species' English name, the maps are confusingly id'ed by Latin names only. If you aren't familiar with the latter, it takes some cross-reference to find out which species' range you are looking at.
4) The illustrations vary so much in standard that it is hard to believe they were drawn by one person... While most are quite good, even excellent and life-like, others are quite awful, either showing animals with stiff, straight limbs/bodies as if drawn with a ruler (like the Crowned Monkey) or in highly unnatural positions (like the Potto with the limbs twisted out, or the Cheetah standing up like a circus horse).
Note that a cheaper, condensed version of this guide, without the first 3 shortcomings listed above and more practical for field use is now available: The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals. It is probably the book you would want to take to Africa while keeping this one at home for reference.
Outstanding Guide.......2004-04-27
This guide book is simply one of the best regional mammal guide books in existance. As well as providing good descriptions of the mammals, it looks at them in the context of their evolutionary history. It does contain a few errors, as is to be expected in a book of this scope. For example, servals are reported from Egypt, where, as far as I am aware, they have not been recorded in historic times. Overall, however, the book is outstanding.I used it throughout a 14-month trip to Africa and it never let me down.
A very useful guide with many lovely illustrations.......2002-12-11
This is a great reference for animals, the guide may not be as thorough as some, but in my opinion, it's thorough enough for the average person..and then some. It has detailed information on the animals it lists, and goes beyond many field guides in this respect. I definitely recommend this book for someone who wants a useful book, loaded with well-drawn color pictures.
Book Description
A companion volume to the popular Animal Planet television series, Big Cat Diaries, which explores the history, biology, behavior, conservation, and survival of big cats inside and outside Kenya's 600-square-mile Masai Mara Game Reserve. With their stunning color photographs and fascinating, first-hand narration, these companion books offer a rare insight into the lives of these magnificent animals. Series titles include:
Lion,
Cheetah, and
Leopard.
Customer Reviews:
Big Cat Diary: Cheetah.......2006-08-17
Love the book and the fast service. I love all of the books that Jonathan Scott has written. I just wish in the US that we could still see the Big Cat Diary Series.
Leopards rule and rock! No doubt about it! .......2005-07-18
I love this book! Leopards are my # 4 favorite animals of all time topped only by jaguars, tigers, and of course lions. I think they are both cool and beautiful. I loved all the ones in here, most definitely the female ones. They were the most cool and beautiful. The only bad part was any of them getting hurt or killed, but other than that this book rocked! The cubs were cute, also. And boy, did I ever learn a lot about lions and hyenas as well as leopards. Like I said, this is a terrific book. I own it at home and will own it until my dying day. I highly reccomend it to anyone over the age of 12. Man, oh man, Amazon.com, you keep up making books like this.
Book Description
With appropriate urgency and a thorough understanding of history and the issues, Jonathan Adams offers a sound conservation strategy in The Future of the Wild, using the latest in conservation science as well as the desires of local communities to protect the places where people live and work. With modern examples, Adams shows how each small success moves conservationists closer to creating protected landscapes large enough to support animals like bison and wolves. Only with freedom to roam through and between these huge lands, using wilderness corridors, can such large animals flourish.
Customer Reviews:
Tree Huggers Beware.......2006-07-04
This is the best book ever on conservation of natural resourses--should be read by all: those who believe in individual property rights, those who believe in preserving our natural resources, and those who know that tradeoffs have to be made, but do not know how to articulate their beliefs.
A 'must read' for any serious ecologist.
An important topic for everyone to understand better.......2006-05-15
This book presents the approaches and challenges of conservation efforts over the last few decades. I wish it had been more tightly edited -- it was repetitive and a bit tedious to read.
Essentially the points of the book are:
1) The best approaches for conserving species is more of a decision based on values than hard science. The complexity of understanding everything that affects a species is too much to expect science to "know all the answers".
2) Conservaton efforts based on today's isolated parks and reserves is inadequate because they're too small. Finding ways to expand their "effective boundaries" is important.
3) The influence of man and the interplay of nature in and around parks and reserves is important to understand well enough to make effective conservation choices.
4) It's imperative to include local communities in the discussion of the issues and obtaining committment to the solutions.
A 'must' for any seriously concerned about the fate of wild animals on the planet.......2006-03-07
The conservation of isolated parks and reserves alone will fail, but there's an alternative option: one that The Future Of The Wild: Radical Conservation For A Crowded World covers. Conservationist Adams ranges across the U.S. in showing how to tie together scattered remnants of this continent's wild places. Stories about the species endangered and the possibilities of wildlife conservation corridors which can help connect and save them make for chapters which blend conservation history and biology with tales of successful partnerships among groups concerned with land and wildlife management. The Future Of The Wild: Radical Conservation For A Crowded World is a 'must' for any seriously concerned about the fate of wild animals on the planet.
Average customer rating:
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Painted Wolves: Wild Dogs of the Serengeti-Mara
Jonathan Scott
Manufacturer: Viking Penguin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Mammals
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0241124859 |
Customer Reviews:
Compelling, disturbing read.......2007-02-22
The events that inspired this book occurred over 15 years ago, but if you want to understand what is going on now in the world politically and economically, especially in terms of US-European-Middle Eastern-Third World relations, this is still very timely.
Outlaw Bank is an excellent and far-reaching piece of well-documented investigative reporting that carefully uncovers the BCCI scandal and the ensuing US cover-up attempts. The sheer scope of the corruption, the deception, the narcotics and clandestine weapons trade involving US government agencies, personnel, and very well-known politicians is stunning. Not only is it as bad as you imagined in your wildest dreams, but many of the same people are still exerting influence (James Baker, Jimmy Carter). BCCI may be gone, but after reading this book and then looking around, you will conclude that not a thing has really changed.
The book for the most part stays away from hyperbole, and while I found it a little difficult going in some of the explanations of financial transactions, I realized often that's because I just couldn't believe what I was reading!
Excellent account of a widely misunderstood phenomenon.......2004-09-25
Beaty and Gwynne do an excellent job tackling the Leviathan that was BCCI. With so many labrynthine angles to pursue, this book does a terrific job of presenting them to the reader in clear and lucid terms. With a keen eye for crafting a good story, they keep your interest throughout by adding a bit of detective story flavor. Indeed, just investigating this story has always been dangerous for journalists and public servants--many deaths are associated with BCCI.
This book would be a timely read right now, as many of the players involved in BCCI still exercise huge influence on world affairs. Though published in 1993, the book details very accurately our current president's involvement with figures closely connected to the drug and arms dealing that was a huge part of the BCCI network, not to mention the funding of international terrorists, including the bin-Ladens.
Long before Michael Moore, and much more academic, these writers had no idea that they were doing the world a great service by helping to uncover the massive corruption of our own government and its decades of business dealings with terrorists and criminals throughout the Middle East and the world, despite their overt lying to the contrary. Read it before the election.
This book is the mother-lode.......2002-09-09
While most analyses of BCCI saw it as a banking scandal, Beaty and Gwynne correctly understood and colorfully present its true nature: as the deepest and most detailed glimpse anyone has so far had into the real workings of the underground economy. Their findings, which have never been challenged or refuted, have only grown more urgent with time. This book will not only tell you where Osama-types come from, it will tell you how and why they can thrive -- or not. That it was written before anyone knew who bin Laden was makes it all that more extraordinary.
Average.......2002-04-07
Not a bad report of what took place although the topic could be a bit dry for the average reader. The dust jacket tries to make the book out to be a bit sexier then it really is. The authors do a good job or moving the story along but I did expect more from Beaty. I think what is interesting is some of the same move movement issues covered within the book are now coming to the forefront with the current crack down on terrorists. If you are interested in the topic of international banking then this book will be interesting.
Average customer rating:
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Mammals of Southern Africa
Jonathan Kingdon
Manufacturer: Covos Day Books,South Africa
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Animals
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Mammals
| Zoology
| Biological Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0620243880 |
Books:
- Theogony, Works and Days (Oxford World's Classics)
- This Jazz Man
- True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership (J-B Warren Bennis Series)
- Vacation Under The Volcano (Magic Tree House 13, paper)
- When I Am/Cuando estoy (English and Spanish Foundation Series) (Book #12) (Bilingual)
- White Night (The Dresden Files, Book 9)
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (New Folger Library Shakespeare)
- A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are
- Absolute Beginner's Guide to iPod and iTunes, 3rd Edition
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (Signet Classics)
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Venomous Snakes of the World
Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature
True Vipers: Natural History and Toxinology of Old World Vipers
Boas and Pythons of the World
Biology of Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards (Organisms and Environments)
