Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands - by George R Zug (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The Pacific is not only the world's largest body of water; 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 islands and the extreme distances between them long prevented scientists from studying their floras and faunas 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 Islands is a compendium of frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles living on these lands and in the adjacent waters of the oceanic islands in the tropical Pacific.

The means to identify each species is included, along with entries that describe each animal's form, coloration, habitat, 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 guide available and will appeal to both novice sightseers and professional naturalists.

From the Back Cover

"This work will be a standard reference for the islands of the Pacific for any herpetologist."

Aaron M. Bauer, Villanova University

"This book fills a longstanding gap in knowledge. It presents a wealth of unpublished and primary data in a synthetic way that will provide a better understanding of Pacific Basin biodiversity."

Robert Fisher, USGS Western Ecological Research Center

Review Quotes

"This accessible and informative guide is the most comprehensive field guide available. . . . A must have for those with an interest in the herpetofauna of the region."--Ian Paulsen "The Guardian" (6/1/2013 12:00:00 AM)

"This book will doubtless long be the first reference to which almost anyone will turn regarding Pacific reptiles and amphibians."-- "Zoological Journal" (5/1/2014 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

George R. Zug is an emeritus research scientist of reptiles and amphibians at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.