Salamanders of the Eastern United States - (Wormsloe Foundation Nature Books) by Larry Wilson & Whit Gibbons & Joe Mitchell (Paperback)

About the Book

Describing 114 species of salamanders occurring in the eastern U.S., this volume includes more than 400 color photographs, over 80 distribution maps, and sections on biology, worldwide diversity, identification, taxonomy, habitats, and conservation.

Book Synopsis

Describing more than 120 species of salamanders occurring in the eastern United States, ecologists Whit Gibbons, Larry Wilson, and Joe Mitchell, provide us with the most comprehensive and authoritative--yet accessible and fun-to-read--guide to these often secretive, always fascinating wonders of nature.

Gibbons, Wilson, and Mitchell enumerate the distinguishing characteristics of salamanders, including how they are different from other amphibians and from reptiles, especially lizards. Also discussed are distribution, habitat, behavior and activity, reproduction, food and feeding, predators and defense, conservation, and taxonomy. Accompanying each account are photographs illustrating typical adults and variations and distribution maps for the eastern U.S. and the United States as a whole.

Given that a high percentage of the world's species of salamanders live in the Southeast and Northeast and the scientific and popular concern for the worldwide decline in amphibian populations in general, Salamanders of the Eastern United States will appeal to people of all ages and levels of knowledge interested in natural history and conservation. The guide will help foster the growing interest in salamanders as well as cultivate a desire to protect and conserve these fascinating amphibians and their habitats.

FEATURES:

conservation-oriented approach
more than 400 color photographs
more than 80 distribution maps
clear species descriptions and photographs
sections on biology, worldwide diversity, identification, taxonomy, habitats, and conservation
"Did You Know?" sidebars of interesting facts

Review Quotes

More detailed than a field guide or app and more convenient to carry than other North American salamander or amphibian diversity books, this was designed to be a herper's companion. If you are in the market for an inexpensive yet thorough, useful, attractive addition to your salamander or North American vertebrate library, this is a worthwhile investment.--Christopher A. Distel "Reptiles & Amphibians"

This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the salamanders of the Eastern United States.--Ian Paulsen "The Birdbooker Report"

The authors suggest a number of ways in which landowners can manage their properties from the perspective of salamander habitat, including resources to guide in restoration of degraded areas. . . . Salamanders are in trouble . . . and this is what you can do to help them.-- "Herpetological Review"

About the Author

Larry Wilson (Author)
LAWRENCE (LARRY) A. WILSON is an adjunct professor in the Departments of Biology and Environmental Sciences at Emory University (1994-current) and author of The Land Manager's Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the South (Nature Conservancy, 1995). He retired from Fernbank Science Center where he worked as the manager of Fernbank Forest, collections manager, and as an ecologist for over thirty years. He has conducted field research with the US Forest Service, Clemson University, Emory, and Fernbank. At Emory he teaches herpetology, tropical ecology, and field studies in southern Africa (Namibia and Botswana). His research interests include herpetofauna of the United States (especially Southeastern salamanders such as the Eastern Hellbender), animal-human conflict species (both in the Southeastern United States and Namibia, Africa). He is an accomplished nature photographer (especially reptiles and amphibians), having been exhibited at several museum, and featured in magazines and journals.

Whit Gibbons (Author)
WHIT GIBBONS is a professor emeritus of ecology at the University of Georgia and author or coauthor of several books on herpetology and ecology, including Keeping All the Pieces, Snakes of the Southeast, Revised Edition, Frogs and Toads of the Southeast, Lizards and Crocodiles of the Southeast, Turtles of the Southeast, and Salamanders of the Southeast (all Georgia).

Joe Mitchell (Author)
JOE MITCHELL (1948-2019) was a herpetology research associate at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida and author/co-author of numerous books including Reptiles of Virginia (Smithsonian) and Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Virginia (VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries), as well as approximately 500 papers on turtles, snakes, and conservation.