The Amphibians And Reptiles Of New York State

This is the first guide yet produced to the amphibians and reptiles of New York State, a large and heavily populated state that hosts a surprisingly diverse and interesting community of amphibians and reptiles. This much needed guide to the identification, distribution, natural history and conservation of the amphibians and reptiles of New York State fill a long-empty niche. The book is the first comprehensive presentation of the distributional data gathered for the New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas project. With more than 60,000 records compiled from 1990-1999, this extraordinary and up-to-date database provides a rich foundation for the book. This volume provides detailed narratives on the 69 species native to New York State. With a heavy emphasis on conservation biology, the book also includes chapters on threats, legal protections, habitat conservation guidelines, and conservation case studies. Also included are 67 distribution maps and 62 pages of color photographs contributed by more than 30 photographers. As a field guide or a desk reference, The Amphibians and Reptiles of New York State is indispensable for anyone interested in the vertebrate animals of the Northeast, as well as students, field researchers and natural resource professionals.

The first guide yet produced to the amphibians and reptiles of New York State, this book includes detailed accounts of New York's 69 native species along with supporting chapters on threats, legal protections, and habitat conservation guidelines, as well as the rich folklore of New York State as it pertains to these creatures, particularly rattlesnakes.

The first complete field guide to the exotic amphibians and reptiles established in the continental United States and Hawaiʻi, this volume covers 74 species that are not native to the country and 29 species that are native but occur beyond their original geographic range. Dispersed from their former habitats by human activity, many of these species are invasive in their new environments, causing ecological or economic harm. Ideal for naturalists of all levels, Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of the United States details each species’ taxonomy, distribution, history, and ecology and portrays each one with vibrant photographs. Drawing on county-level distribution maps from 2,908 published records, this guide provides an in-depth understanding of local factors that drive the success of exotic species. It connects species-specific information to conservation issues as it explores human causes of exotic and invasive establishment. The book also includes eight invited essays which provide regional perspectives on scientific, economic, and management-related aspects of this phenomenon. As ecological pressures on native species and habitats increase, understanding the histories and roles of exotic species is becoming more and more important for conservation efforts. Providing practical identification skills and an awareness of the environmental impacts of these amphibians and reptiles, this indispensable guide equips readers to confront the unusual biodiversity crisis of exotic species.

The Encyclopedia of New York State is one of the most complete works on the Empire State to be published in a half-century. In nearly 2,000 pages and 4,000 signed entries, this single volume captures the impressive complexity of New York State as a historic crossroads of people and ideas, as a cradle of abolitionism and feminism, and as an apex of modern urban, suburban, and rural life. The Encyclopedia is packed with fascinating details from fields ranging from sociology and geography to history. Did you know that Manhattan's Lower East Side was once the most populated neighborhood in the world, but Hamilton County in the Adirondacks is the least densely populated county east of the Mississippi; New York is the only state to border both the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean; the Erie Canal opened New York City to rich farmland upstate . . . and to the west. Entries by experts chronicle New York's varied areas, politics, and persuasions with a cornucopia of subjects from environmentalism to higher education to railroads, weaving the state's diverse regions and peoples into one idea of New York State. Lavishly illustrated with 500 photographs and figures, 120 maps, and 140 tables, the Encyclopedia is key to understanding the state's past, present, and future. It is a crucial reference for students, teachers, historians, and business people, for New Yorkers of all persuasions, and for anyone interested in finding out more about New York State.

Though Pennsylvania receives the most emphasis here, readers will find references to all of the northeastern US. A wide audience will find this a useful resource, including professional and amateur herpetologists, students, and amateur naturalists. As in a field guide, the amphibians and reptiles are described in detail to aid identification. The text goes far beyond a simple field guide, however, containing substantial treatment of the habitat, habits, reproduction, and distribution of each species with additional remarks on taxonomic status, behavior, appearance and conservation. Color photos of each species are included. Two of the authors are curators for museums of natural history, the third teaches biology at Indiana U. of Pennsylvania. c. Book News Inc.

A beautifully illustrated tour of the region’s snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders. Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award of the NOBA Foundation (Nature and Environment Category) In the best tradition of natural history writing and art, The Snake and the Salamander explores the diverse collection of reptiles and amphibians that inhabit the northeastern quadrant of the United States. Covering 13 states that run from Maine to Virginia, author Alvin R. Breisch and artist Matt Patterson showcase the lives of 83 species of snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders. These intriguing animals are organized by habitat and type, from forest to grassland to bogs to big waters, and revealed through a combination of Breisch’s engaging prose and Patterson’s original color illustrations. Breisch’s guided tour combines historical notes and conservation issues with lessons on genetics, evolution, habitats, life histories, and more. Discover how careful attention to frog calls coupled with DNA analysis led to the discovery of a new species of frog in New York City, why evolutionary adaptations made the Eastern Ratsnake a superb climber, and the surprising fact that Spiny Softshell turtles actually sprint on land to retreat from predators. Breisch also tells the odd tale of the Green Frog and the Smooth Greensnake, two “green species” that do not actually have any green pigment in their skin. Every species has a story to tell—one that will keep the reader wanting to learn more. The breadth of herpetofauna in the area will surprise many readers: more than 8% of the world’s salamanders and 11% of all turtle species live in the region. Beyond numbers, however, lie aesthetics. The surprising colors and fascinating lifestyles of the reptile and amphibian species in this book will mesmerize readers young and old.

While diseases of free-ranging and captive mammalian and avian wildlife species have received considerable interest in the past 25 years, those of amphibians and reptiles (collectively, the herptiles) generally have been assigned lesser importance. The literature concern ing disease in herptiles is widely scattered, consisting chiefly of case reports and prevalence surveys, and with heavy emphasis on captive reptiles. The dynamics of the host-agent-environment relationship have been studied for only a few diseases. This diverse data base is primarily a function of the paucity of investigators whose chief interest is in diseases of herptiles. This first edition represents an effort to bring together some of the diffuse knowledge on infectious and non-infectious diseases of free-ranging and captive herp tiles. Issue may be taken with the choice of topics; how ever, predominant diseases, as well as some diseases of lesser prominence, are presented. The editors were forced to accept certain omissions, particularly with amphibian diseases, simply for lack of contributors. The resulting text, however, we hope will be of value to veterinarians, herpetolo,gists, wildlife disease investigators, wildlife managers, zoo curators, and university students. G.L. Hoff F.L. Frye E.R. Jacobson v CONTENTS Mycobacteriosis 1 D.G. Brownstein Pasteurella in Reptiles 25 K.P. Snipes Pseudomonas 37 E.R. Jacobson Areomonas 49 E.B. Shotts, Jr.

Biologists, historians, and social scientists explore the reciprocal relationships between humans and the Hudson River.