Encyclopedia of North American Reptiles and Amphibians An Essential Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of North America

by Mattison, Chris

• ISBN13: 9781592234271
• ISBN10: 1592234275
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-08-16
• Publisher: Thunder Bay Press

Summary

North America has such a wide range of climatic regions and habitats that it has a rich and varied amphibian and reptile fauna. All together there are about 300 species of reptiles and 200 species of amphibians, ranging from the huge alligators of the southern swamps to tiny frogs no bigger than a fingernail and burrowing snakes as thin as shoelaces. It is especially rich in salamanders, and there are more species and families of salamanders here than anywhere else in the world. Where the reptiles are concerned, the warmer southern states are home to more species than the cooler northern ones, whereas the climate in the northern parts is more suitable for amphibians. The southern states, in addition to having more species, also tend to have the largest ones. The American alligator, for example, is found only in the Southeast and all the largest snakes and lizards are southern, many of them found in the deserts of the Southwest, a haven for reptiles.

Author Biography

Chris Mattison is an honors graduate in zoology and specializes in the natural history of reptiles and amphibians

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 6
What Is an Amphibian?	p. 8
Hellbender	p. 20
Amphiumas	p. 24
Pacific Giant Salamanders	p. 26
Mudpuppy	p. 32
Cascade Torrent Salamander	p. 34
Sirens	p. 36
Axolotl	p. 40
Tiger Salamander	p. 44
Black-Bellied Salamander	p. 48
Three-Lined Salamander	p. 50
Barton Springs Salamander	p. 52
Slimy Salamander	p. 54
Red Salamander	p. 56
Eastern Newt	p. 58
Rough-Skinned Newt	p. 60
Tailed Frog	p. 62
Mexican Burrowing Frog	p. 64
Couch's Spadefoot	p. 66
Cane Toad	p. 68
Rain Frogs	p. 74
Great Plains Narrow-Mouthed Toad	p. 80
American Green Treefrog	p. 82
Cuban Treefrog	p. 84
Red-Eyed Leaf Frogs	p. 86
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog	p. 92
American Bullfrog	p. 96
What Is a Reptile?	p. 100
Loggerhead Turtle	p. 110
Green Turtle	p. 112
Hawksbill Turtle	p. 116
Leatherback Turtle	p. 118
Alligator Snapping Turtle	p. 122
Common Snapping Turtle	p. 128
Spiny Softshell	p. 132
Yellow Mud Turtle	p. 134
Painted Turtle	p. 136
Pond Slider	p. 140
Eastern Box Turtle	p. 142
Spotted Turtle	p. 144
Gopher Tortoises	p. 146
Plumed Basilisk	p. 148
Collared Lizard	p. 150
Green Iguana	p. 152
Coast Horned Lizard	p. 156
Green Anole	p. 160
Side-Blotched Lizard	p. 162
Western Banded Gecko	p. 164
Ashy Gecko	p. 166
Granite Night Lizard	p. 168
Desert Grassland Whiptail	p. 170
Five-Lined Skink	p. 174
Eastern Glass Lizard	p. 176
North American Legless Lizards	p. 178
Southern Alligator Lizard	p. 180
Giant Galliwasps	p. 182
Gila Monster	p. 184
Mexican Beaded Lizard	p. 188
American Sunbeam Snake	p. 190
Texas Thread Snake	p. 192
Common Boa	p. 194
Rubber Boa	p. 200
Rosy Boa	p. 202
Western Shovel-Nosed Snake	p. 206
American Ratsnake	p. 208
Corn Snake	p. 212
Common King Snake	p. 214
Milksnake	p. 218
Rough Green Snake	p. 224
Ground Snake	p. 226
Southern Water Snake	p. 228
Common Garter Snake	p. 232
Ringneck Snake	p. 238
American Snail-Eaters	p. 242
Western Hognose Snake	p. 244
American Coral Snakes	p. 248
Copperhead	p. 254
Eyelash Viper	p. 258
Terciopelo	p. 260
Bushmasters	p. 262
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake	p. 264
Sidewinder	p. 270
Massasauga	p. 272
American Alligator	p. 274
Glossary	p. 280
Further Reading/Websites	p. 283
Index	p. 284
Picture Credits	p. 288
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.