Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands

by Zug, George R.

• ISBN13: 9780520274952
• ISBN10: 0520274954
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-06-28
• Publisher: Univ of California Pr

Summary

The Pacific is not only the world's largest body of water, but its vast expanse also includes an extraordinary number and diversity of oceanic islands, from Palau and the Marianas east of the Philippines to Cocos Island and the Galápagos west of the Americas. The isolation of these lands and extreme distances between them long prevented scientists from studying their flora and fauna in a comparative context. But now George R. Zug, one of the world's foremost experts on the diverse reptiles and amphibians of the Pacific Basin, offers the first such systematic overview in more than half a century. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islandsis a compendium of all the animals living on these lands and in the adjacent waters of the oceanic islands in the tropical Pacific. The means to identify each and every Pacific frog, lizard, snake, and turtle is included, along with entries for each species that describe their form and coloration, habitat and distribution, reproductive biology and natural history. Color plates of more than 75 percent of the species also help to facilitate visual identification. This accessible and informative guide is the most comprehensive field reference available and will appeal to both novice sightseers and professional naturalists.