Queensland Atlas
Aquaterrariums
Herpetology
Evolution
Ichthyology
Megadiverse Ecuador
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HERPETOLOGY
BOOKS --
Reptiles & Amphibians
| Megadiverse Ecuador. By Luis Coloma
and Santiago Ron. For a country with the
extraordinary biodiversity of Ecuador, this type of book has been too long
in coming. ISBN: 9978-77-093-3 |
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book |
| Reptiles and Amphibians of
Australia. 6th Edition (2000), by Harold Cogger. The
essential field guide to Downunder's herpetofauna has come back with
another revised edition. Reed Pty. Ltd., and Ralph Curtis Books,
Sanibel Island, Florida. ISBN: 0-88359-048-4. |
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here to see book
|
| Reptilien und Amphibien Mittelamerikas,
Band1: Krokodile, Schildkröten, Echsen, by Gunther Köhler. Prolific
German herpetologist produces another fine book, this time a field guide
to the herpetofauna of Central America. In German. Paperback. 2000. Herpeton
Verlag Elke Köhler, Offenbach. ISBN: 3-9806214-0-5. |
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| Sea Snakes, by Harold Heatwole. A revised version of an excellent overview of
some of the most unusual reptiles on earth. Covers distribution,
diversity, natural history, feeding, defense, parasites, ecology, marine
adaptations, and venom. Bibliography. Krieger Publishing Co.,
Malabar, FL. Softback. ISBN: 1575241161. |
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here to see book |
|
IN
PRODUCTION: A Guide to the Care of Savannah &
Grassland Monitors, by Robert George Sprackland. Covers
the general husbandry of savannah, whitethroat, Bengal, Indian, and Argus
monitors. Fully and lavishly illustrated in color. Includes natural history, taxonomy,
breeding, acquisition, veterinary, and writing sections. Bibliography with web
resources. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Escondido, CA. Paperback.
|
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Amphibians and Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia and
Thailand, an Illustrated Checklist, by Tanya Chan-ard, Wolfgang Grossman,
Andreas Gumprecht and Klaus-Dieter Schulz. There is
a brief introduction to the region and its zoogeography, but the vast bulk of
the 240-page book is a thoroughly illustrated checklist and keys to the fauna of
the rich Thai/Malaysian peninsula. Text is in English and German. Color photos
on almost every page. A short but useful bibliography is included. Paperback.
Bushmaster Publications, ISBN 3-9806813-0-0.
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| Warane: Lebensweise, Pflege, Zucht, by
Bernd Eidenmüller. There have been a spate
of titles on monitor lizard care in the past decade. Herr Eidenmüller has
given us the best of the lot, provided you can read German. This is one of
the titles published by Herpeton, Germany's most authoritative guides to
herpetoculture. Covers all species, their general natural history,
husbandry, reproduction and care of young. Extensively illustrated, with
an excellent bibliography. 1997. Paperback. Herpeton Verlag Elke
Köhler, Offenbach, Germany. ISBN: 3-9802892-7-3. |
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| The Natural History of Amphibians and Reptiles in Sabah,
by Robert F. Inger and Tan Fui Lian. An excellent
review of the herpetology of a long-neglected and very rich fauna. Sabah, in
north Borneo, is home to numerous frogs, geckos, pythons, monitors and other
species. Covers habitats and natural history of species. Well and thoroughly
illustrated. 1996, Natural History Publications (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd., Kota
Kinabalu, ISBN 983-812-010-3. Paperback. |
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|
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Herpetological Bibliography of Indonesia, by Indraneil Das. A
long overdue contribution to the most herpetologically rich nation on earth. Das
lists all the literature pertaining to the reptiles and amphibians of a country
that spans Sumatra to New Guinea. For the specialist. Hardbound. 1998. Krieger
Publications, Melbourne, Florida. ISBN 1-57524-026-2. |
| General Care and Maintenance of
Bearded Dragons, by Philippe de Vosjoli & Robert Mailloux.
The best basic guide to the captive keeping of lizards of the genus Pogona
by two pioneers and long term keepers of the lizards. Paperback. 1997.
Advanced Vivarium Systems, Escondido, California. ISBN 1-882770-40-4. |
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here to order |
| Animals & Fishes in
Aquaterrariums, by Robert G. Sprackland. This
book was written especially for teachers who wish to establish educational
and largely self-sustaining vivaria for local species that students may
capture and bring to class. Thoroughly illustrated. Hardback. 1995. TFH
Publications, Neptune, NJ. ISBN: 0-7938-0125-7. |
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| A Guide to Lizards: basics,
procedures, diseases, resources, by the Royal Veterinary College, London.
1999. A CD-ROM guide to lizard anatomy and basic husbandry need aimed at
veterinary practitioners. Includes useful information about lizards and
husbandry, but its value is in the diagnostic and treatment sections.
Contributors include Michael Waters, Michael Voyce, Peer Zwert, and
Fredric Frye. Requires Windows 3.1, 95, NT or later. Krieger Publishing
Co., Melbourne, Florida. ISBN: none.
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here to order |
| Giant Lizards, by Robert George
Sprackland. This is the book that started the
enthusiasm for keeping monitors, many iguanas and other lizards that reach
the 3-foot mark. Though written in 1989 (but not published until 1992),
much of the husbandry and natural history data remain current. The
breeding sections, though, are understandably dated. Excellent, numerous
color photos. TFH Publications, Neptune, NJ. Hardback. ISBN:
0-86622-634-6. |
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| A Field Guide to the Snakes and
Lizards of New South Wales, by Gerry Swan. A
very user-friendly field guide that is easy to carry into the field.
Photos of each species make identification straightforward. Page size and
photo quality are appropriate for field use, as photos have detail that is
easily seen. Numerous color photos. Paper. Three Sisters
Publications, Winmalee, NSW. ISBN: 0-9590203-9. OUT OF PRINT, but a
revised edition is being prepared for late 2000 release. |
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|
| Reptile Keeper's Handbook, by Susan M.
Barnard. Here is a comprehensive general
guide to reptile husbandry and management written by an experienced keeper
from a major zoo. The range of topics is broad, making this a highly recommended
introductory text for anyone keeping or planning to keep reptiles. B&W
photos and drawings. 1996. Hardback. Krieger Publishing, Melbourne,
Florida. ISBN: 0-89464-933-7. |
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ICHTHYOLOGY
BOOKS -- Fishes
| The CURATOR Project: Key to the Sharks
& Rays of the World, by Dr. Robert Sprackland; Geoffrey N. Swinney,
consultant. This is the first comprehensive
key to all the world's elasmobranchs since 1913, and keys all sharks and
many rays to species, and all rays to genus. Fully hyperlinked with
glossary, websites and literature. Illustrated with drawings, paintings,
photos and 20 videoclips. Includes the first naming of new species (7 new
sharks) in accord with the new ICZN Code (4th edition). Full macro
functions work on PCs, but text can be read on Mac. 1991. ISBN:
0-9658868-1-6. |
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to order |
|
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Sharks and Rays of Australia, by Peter Last and J.D.
Stevens. Unquestionably the definitive book on
cartilaginous fishes of Australian waters. Includes useful keys, species
accounts, maps, illustrations and color illustrations of most species. Includes
over 90 unnamed taxa. 1994, CSIRO, Australia. Hardbound. ISBN 0-643-05143-0. |
| FAO Species Catalogue: Sharks of the World, by Leonard
Compagno. 2 volumes. This is an essential reference
for anyone studying any aspect of shark biology. Primarily a set of keys, this
guide also includes pertinent natural history and commercial fishing data and
provides an exhaustive bibliography. A bit dated, primarily in terms of some
taxonomy (it does not include rays as "sharks"), but still THE
baseline data book on these fishes. Lavishly illustrated with line drawings.
1984. Paperback. U.N. Food And Agricultural Organization, Rome. ISBN
92-5-101384-5 & 92-5-101383-7. |
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ENTOMOLOGY
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The Praying Mantids, Prete, Wells, Wells & Hurd, editors. A multiauthored volume containing many papers of interest. Topics span
taxonomy, behavior, and care in captivity. 560 pages, 33 color plates. Hardback, 1999. Johns
Hopkins University Press.
Click on book to order. |
|
Insects did it First,
by Roger Akre, Gregory Paulson and E. Paul Catts. This wonderfully written
book describes how insects were the "first" to accomplish things
that man has developed only recently. Examples include antifreeze in
scorpionflies, slavery and gardening in ants, and domestication of aphids
by ants. The book is illustrated in cartoon format, and many
"accomplishments" have photos. This book also contains some
material that might be considered "offensive," and has been
placed together in the back. Recommended for entomologists of any
experience level. Ye Galleon Press, ISBN: 0877705178.
Click
here to order. |
EVOLUTIONARY
& SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
BOOKS
|
Quantum Evolution, the New Science
of Life, by Johnjoe McFadden. A staggering,
brilliant analysis of the inevitable links that must exist between quantum
and evolutionary theories. Norton. ISBN: 0-393-05041-6. |
Click here for more
information |
|
Darwin's Ghost: The Origin of
Species Updated, by Steve Jones. A wonderful
modern account of Darwin's On the Origin of Species written by a
leading student of evolutionary genetics (whose office, incidentally, is
but a few hundred yards from the site of Darwin's London home). This book
is in clear English, accessible to any reader interested in the subject.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED for teachers and parents involved in school board
actions regarding science education. Hardbound, 1999. Random House.
ISBN: 0-375-50103-7.
(Released in the U.K. and Australia as Almost a Whale.) |
Click on book to order
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information |
|
In Search of Deep Time: Beyond the
Fossil Record, by Henry Gee. This is a
long-awaited book, covering as it does the reality of what paleontology
and evolutionary scenarios can and cannot do. Dr. Gee is an accomplished
and lucid writer who has given his readers exceptional examples of
contemporary evolutionary analysis in terms that most readers can
understand.
|
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|
| Tower of Babel: The evidence against
the New Creationism, by Robert T. Pennock. A
timely review of the real issues behind the creationist movement to
surreptitiously inject a specific and very narrow interpretation of
Christianity into the American public schools. Written by a philosopher,
this is a moving and important book that should be read by every educated
person. Hardback. 1999. The MIT Press. ISBN: 0-262-16180-X. |
Click to see book & review
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GENERAL
ZOOLOGY
BOOKS
| Swift as a Shadow: Extinct and
Endangered Animals. Photographs by Rosamond Purcell, written by the staff
of the Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum of Leiden.
A remarkable "lest we forget" ode to our fellow animals, this
book presents haunting photos of the dead and dying species that mankind
has decimated. One of the world's top museum staffs has written the text
to accompany the 105 photos. Read a single account and it will stay with
you for a very long time. Photos are from preserved specimens, mainly at
the NNML. I wish, though, the author gave us more of Macroscincus
than just a close-up of its rear legs. Excellent and a must for all
zoologists. Paper. 1999. Mariner Books/ Houghton Mifflin. ISBN:
0-395-89228-7. |
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| An Atlas of Queensland's Frogs,
Reptiles, Birds & Mammals, edited by Glen Ingram & Robert Raven.
A multi-authored tome of maps, with a separate map for each species of
terrestrial vertebrate known from the NE Australian state as of 1990.
Clear overlays include town names, elevation, drainage, and national
parks. Essential reference to one of the most biologically diverse areas
on earth. Paper. 1991. Queensland Museum, South Brisbane. ISBN
0-7242-4626-6. |
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