Price: $74.95
(as of Sep 18, 2024 20:10:56 UTC – Details)
Amphibians and reptiles represent an essential and interesting component of Wisconsin’s wildlife. Eighteen species of amphibian and thirty-six species of reptile occupy landscapes across the state. They live in aquatic habitats that range from small streams to large lakes, and from open prairies to mature forests on land. These species are vital members of the biological communities in which they occur, acting as important predators, prey, and competitors, while also providing a wide variety of additional ecological functions. However, many amphibians and reptiles have experienced drastic population declines and even local extinctions in Wisconsin due to habitat loss and degradation, overharvesting, the introduction of invasive species, pollution, and other factors. This comprehensive volume, by an expert team of editors and contributors, consolidates the current state of scientific knowledge, aims to expand public knowledge and appreciation of Wisconsin’s natural legacy, and brings out the herpetologist in all of us.
This long-awaited, state-of-the-field synthesis also includes hundreds of color photographs and illustrations, state-level and North American range maps, dichotomous keys, and research and conservation anecdotes that will entertain and inform even the most dedicated nature lover. Amphibians and Reptiles of Wisconsin is set to become a lasting resource and armchair companion for anyone in the Midwest interested in the state’s natural history and amphibian and reptile fauna.
Publisher : University of Wisconsin Press; First Edition (November 1, 2022)
Language : English
Hardcover : 1176 pages
ISBN-10 : 0299335208
ISBN-13 : 978-0299335205
Item Weight : 4.12 pounds
Dimensions : 8.5 x 2.5 x 11 inches
5
Reviewer: BPJ
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Forget birdwatching, this book is for reptilewatchers!
Review: Wisconsin is fortunate to have such experts as these authors contributing to its herpetological knowledge. Iâm just a guy with an amateur-level interest in Wisconsin reptiles, but I doubt there are books as comprehensive and rich as this available for many other stateâs snakes and turtles. The authorsâ blend of technical content with personal anecdotes and narratives transforms this book from exclusively an academic reference into an engaging guide with storytelling charm.One memorable passage describes a gartersnake nest discovered with all the snakesâ heads bitten offâlikely the work of an extremely hungry or unusually psychopathic shrew. Another intriguing account involves the successful search for elusive ribbonsnakes by shifting the focus from the ground to the lower bushes, showcasing the authorsâ fieldwork experiences. My favorite is a particularly nostalgic story that recounts the author and his friend, as elementary school students, stumbling upon a âwrithing pile of snakes,â highlighting the lifelong fascination with these creatures.This book is dense with technical material meticulously pulled from, by my count, over 3,800 journal articles. For âreptilewatchersâ like myself who have shunned the more traditional birdwatcherâs life, this book offers invaluable information. And it’s an essential resource for anyone considering a career in this field, earning its place as one of the “bibles” of herpetology.The book is also visually appealing, featuring numerous photographs of the species and their natural habitats within Wisconsin. Additionally, the inclusion of distribution maps for each speciesâoddly one of my favorite features of wildlife encyclopediasâenhances its utility and appeal. This book is a remarkable achievement and testament to the beauty and complexity of Wisconsinâs reptiles and amphibians.
Reviewer: GB1
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: In-depth and comprehensive!
Review: WOW! The information provided in this book about Wisconsin’s amphibians and reptiles is detailed and comprehensive! It will appeal to professionals and the general public alike–anyone with an interest in Wisconsin’s natural world. In addition to distribution maps and a wealth of scientific information about each species, “Natural History Boxes” provide interesting and insightful field notes. County Record data is provided for each species. The “Literature Cited” appendix can point the interested reader/researcher to additional sources. What a treasure trove of information this book provides! it is destined to be “THE REFERENCE” for Wisconsin’s amphibians and reptiles for years to come!
Reviewer: Chrysta
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Best and most comprehensive herp book ever!!!!!!!
Review: This book is so information packed! While this book may not be the best book to haul around out in the field it is an invaluable resource of herptology knowledge and a Wisconsin habitat guide. Any other academic book similar to the size and scope of this book costs easily 2 to 3 times as much! Buy this book it is amazing!
Reviewer: JB
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A must have guide for the amateur or professional restorationist/ herpetologist
Review: As a professional restorationist in Wisconsin, this book has it all. When writing management plans or recommendations, this book is a great resource to guide you to what the best practice might be with keeping the herpetofauna of Wisconsin in mind. It also gives you great insight into the species life cycles and habitat to give you greater chances of detecting them when conducting surveys.It is also a great resource for non-professionals wanting to learn more about the herpetofauna of Wisconsin without spending hours (or days) digging through countless publications from Wisconsin over the decades.A couple things I absolutely love about this book that makes it stands out from other guides are the section of prominent figures of herpetology past and hypothetical and enigmatic species of Wisconsin. History is important and knowing who were the pioneers of the field in Wisconsinâs past adds great Context to this book. The section of hypotheticals and enigmatic species is top tier! You can tell a lot of hours went into this section going and locating (sometimes maybe not) the old vouchers of hypothetical and enigmatic species of Wisconsin.
Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Informative, beautiful illustrations, beginner to advanced
Review: This book is written amazingly for both beginners and professionals. I love the summary sections at the beginning of each species that helps with ID and basic information! I am eager to learn and this book provides further in depth information! This book is truly want you wanna get from it! Not to mention the illustrations and colored photos are exceptional!
Reviewer: EricRoscoe
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A Very Hefty Book, But too Technical
Review: To start out, this is a very hefty book at nearly 1,176 pages! The plusses of this book are that there are a lot of great, color photographs and other plates, as well as unique information and insights specific to each species. The hypothetical species section, as well as the counties of possible occurrence for each species listed are also quite interesting, and should have the reader excited and interested in learning more and wanting to fill in these gaps.The biggest flaw of this book, however, is that a lot of it reads more like an academic or research paper, and might not be as engaging for general audiences as it could be. The one or more natural history boxes given for each species listed try to be entertaining, but it kind of just feels one-sided. I can see this book going over a lot of heads.This is not a terrible book by any means, but not my favorite either. For a much lighter book, with much of the same information in only 76 pages, go with the Vogt. (1981) book. Overall, I would give this book a 6.5/10.
