Reptiles And Amphibians Of The Mojave Desert

Focusing on the 66 species of reptiles and amphibians found in the Mojave Desert, this concise field guide uses hundreds of intimate color photographs, gorgeous range maps, and concise, at-a-glace information to make identification easy while providing useful and interesting details about the animals, their habitat, and the desert they call home. New to this second edition are over 80 new and exciting photographs and updated taxonomy since this is an area in the field of biology that is constantly changing as we learn more about the ancestral relationships between all of the species. As before, the definitive text is tailored to some of the Southwest's most beautiful places, such as Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and the Mojave National Preserve, and is written to be appreciated by field biologists and curious visitors alike. If you enjoy the Mojave and these fascinating animals, this field guide is the go-to source for reliable identification and reputable information.

A comprehensive pictorial field guide to the 64 species of salamanders, frogs, toads, tortoises, geckos, skinks, lizards, and snakes found in the Mojave Desert of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Each species account includes common and scientific names and a description of the species, its habits, and other distinguishing information. Tabs indicate if the species is toxic, harmless, mildly venomous, or dangerously venomous (toxic or mildly venomous are considered harmless to humans) as well as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC) designation. More detailed information about the identification and life history characteristics for each species are presented. While the majority of herps in the Mojave have unique and distinguishing characteristics that will quickly lead to their identification, there are a few groups where the comparative information presented as well as cross-referencing the photos and descriptions of similar species is necessary for a positive identification. The combined use of the geographic location within the Mojave, the variety of pictures provided, and the descriptions of each species should lead to a positive identification. Front matter includes information on classification, places to see the animals, habitats, evolution, paleontology, and conservation concerns.

". . . encourage[s] hope and resilience in times of devastating damage."—New York Review of Books This user-friendly guide is the only complete resource that identifies and describes all the amphibians and reptiles—salamanders, frogs and toads, lizards, snakes, and tortoises and turtles—that live in California. The species are described in richly detailed accounts that include range maps, lifelike color paintings by Robert C. Stebbins, clear drawings of various life stages including eggs, notes on natural history, and conservation status. Easy-to-use keys for every order help identify species, and informative chapters cover more general topics including evolution, habitat loss, and photography. Throughout, anecdotes and observations reveal new insights into the lives of California’s abundant but often hidden amphibians and reptiles.

Roads may threaten the persistence of wildlife populations by acting as barriers to movement and/or sources of increased mortality across the landscape. Amphibians and reptiles have been identified as being particularly susceptible to negative road impacts. Many species migrate annually among habitats to support basic life history requirements such as breeding, development, foraging, and overwintering. For these species, individuals may need to successfully cross roads multiple times each year for the population to persist. Many are slow-moving and freeze in the presence of danger, making it almost impossible for them to avoid oncoming vehicles. Although there are a plethora of road mortality location and count data, the effects of road mortality on the long-term viability of amphibian and reptile populations and metapopulations are mostly unknown due to a lack of information on their abundance, vital rates, behavior, and spatial and temporal dynamics.