- Paperback: 332 pages
- Publisher: Princeton University Press; Reprint edition (Jan 6 1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0691102511
- ISBN-13: 978-0691102511
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.3 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 522 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #769,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
This fine book helps us to appreciate amphibians more fully and provides vital scientific information that may help us to protect them. . . . Although amphibians are but one piece of the biodiversity crisis, this book may become a model for those who champion the preservation of threatened species of all kinds. -- Andrew R. Blaustein, Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Conveys the authors' enthusiasm for studying the natural history of a fascinating group of animals. The illustrations are superb [and the] line drawings are a delight. . . . A major contribution. -- Kentwood D. Wells, The Quarterly Review of Biology
'[P]rofessional zoologists and serious amateurs. . . will find it a really useful, and enjoyable, work of reference. -- Nicholas Gould, >International Zoo News"
This book ... seems likely to replace Duellman and Trueb's Biology of Amphibians as the standard text for students and researchers. -- Chris Mattison, New Scientist
Conveys the authors' enthusiasm for studying the natural history of a fascinating group of animals. The illustrations are superb [and the] line drawings are a delight. . . . A major contribution. -- Kentwood D. Wells, The Quarterly Review of Biology
'[P]rofessional zoologists and serious amateurs. . . will find it a really useful, and enjoyable, work of reference. -- Nicholas Gould, >International Zoo News"
This book ... seems likely to replace Duellman and Trueb's Biology of Amphibians as the standard text for students and researchers. -- Chris Mattison, New Scientist
Product Description
This is a book for all readers who want to learn about amphibians, the animal group that includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. It draws on many years of classroom teaching, laboratory experience, and field observation by the authors. Robert Stebbins and Nathan Cohen lead readers on a fascinating odyssey as they explore some of nature's most interesting creatures, interspersing their own observations throughout the book. A Natural History of Amphibians can serve as a textbook for students and independent learners, as an overview of the field for professional scientists and land managers, and as an engaging introduction for general readers.
The class Amphibia contains more than 4,500 known living species. New species are being discovered so rapidly that the number may grow to more than 5,000 during our lifetimes. However, their numbers are being rapidly decimated around the globe, largely due to the encroachment of humans on amphibian habitats and from growing human-caused environmental pollution, discussed at length in the final chapter. The authors focus our attention on the "natural history" of amphibians worldwide and emphasize their interactions with their environments over time: where they live; how they reproduce; how they have been affected by evolutionary processes; what factors will determine their destinies over time. Through the experienced eyes of the authors, who are skilled observers, we come to see and understand the place of amphibians in the natural world around us.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A very interesting book detailing Amphibians,
By
This review is from: A Natural History of Amphibians (Paperback)
I really enjoy this book, A Natural History of Amphibians offers the basic foundation of amphibian fundamentals. This book is a very good starting point for biology students or advancing hobbyists. this book covers a great deal of information in very little text (not completely in depth but a very good over view) gives information on skin, breathing, locomotion, nose, eyes, vision, food habits, ears, voice, temperature, water regulation, protection against predators, home range, territorial behavior, (a very good chapter and sub-chapters on) reproduction, and about 40 pgs on declining amphibians and the contributions of amphibians to human welfare (with obvious sub categories of all). I am giving this book *4 stars* and I am starting to lean to 3.5 only becouse of its age, this book is now apx. 15 years old (from first print) and there is a lot of new text and findings that could make this and other books like it extremely beneficial. "A++ one to get you started"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book, a lttle technical,
By
This review is from: A Natural History of Amphibians (Paperback)
I don't have a biology background but was (am) very interested in learning more about amphibians since we're setting up a neat frog pond in the back yard. So this was a book I came across and its pretty good for the lay person like me but it does get a bit technical in parts (so its probably better for beginner biology student or someone with the basics already under their belt). There are some really neat drawings in here - like those that show the different toe shapes of different salamanders and then go on to describe the different modes of locomotion. There's interesting behavioral info like territorialism in salamanders (I had no idea! they always seem so mellow!) And there's a fascinating chapter (short unfortunately) on homing and migration. There are lots of neat chapters, those are just a few items that spring to mind. I'm still looking for more books that will give me a good basic understanding of the life and times of amphibians but this was certainly a great start. I highly recommend it since it does have so much info and for the lay person like myself it gave me a chance to expand my knowledge. I'm fascinated by vernal pools and the whole migration/reproduction cycles but this was a good start.
4.0 out of 5 stars
well-written and easy to read,
By Jodi (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Natural History of Amphibians (Paperback)
This book is intended for a general audience and is great for anyone who wants to know more about frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Despite this fact, I'm sure that even professional herpetologists will find this book interesting and learn something that they do not know. Chapters include: skin, breathing, food habits, voice, reproduction and declining amphibians. Overall, an interesting and highly informative book. Highly recommended!
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