Download or read book The Encyclopedia of Animals written by and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2004 with total page 619 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This lavishly illustrated trade reference to mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates features hundreds of glorious photos, masterful illustrations, and informative maps.

Download or read book Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California Including Its Pacific Islands and the Islands in the Sea of Cort s written by L. Lee Grismer and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2002-09-16 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Baja California peninsula is home to many forms of life found nowhere else on earth. This, combined with the peninsula's rugged and inaccessible terrain, has made the area one of the last true biological frontiers of North America. L. Lee Grismer is not only the foremost authority on the amphibians and reptiles of Baja California, but also an outstanding photographer. He has produced the most comprehensive work on the herpetofauna of the peninsula and its islands ever published. With its stunning color images, detailed accounts of many little-known species, and descriptions of the region's diverse environment, this is the definitive guide to the amphibians and reptiles of a fascinating and remote region. The culmination of Grismer's quarter century of fieldwork on the Baja peninsula and his exploration of more than one hundred of its islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortés, this book gives information on the identification, distribution, natural history, and taxonomy of each species of amphibian and reptile found there. Preliminary accounts of the life history of many of the salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes are reported here for the first time, and several species that were almost unknown to science are illustrated in full color. The book also contains new data on species distribution and on the effect of the isolated landscape of the peninsula and its islands on the evolutionary process. Much of the information gathered here is presented in biogeographical overviews that consider the extremely varied environments of Baja California in both a contemporary and a historical framework. An original and important contribution to science, this book will generate further research for years to come as it becomes a benchmark reference for both professionals and amateurs.

Download or read book Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Lizards and Tuatara written by Justin L. Rheubert and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2014-12-19 with total page 742 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Lizards and Tuatara is a remarkable compendium of chapters written by the world's leading experts from over four continents. The book begins with a chapter recounting historical discoveries in reproductive biology and a review of phylogenetics and up-to-date hypotheses concerning evolutionary relationships amon

Download or read book Herpetology written by Laurie J. Vitt and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2013-03-25 with total page 773 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fourth edition of the textbook Herpetology covers the basic biology of amphibians and reptiles, with updates in nearly every conceptual area. Not only does it serve as a solid foundation for modern herpetology courses, but it is also relevant to courses in ecology, behavior, evolution, systematics, and morphology. Examples taken from amphibians and reptiles throughout the world make this book a useful herpetology textbook in several countries. Naturalists, amateur herpetologists, herpetoculturists, zoo professionals, and many others will find this book readable and full of relevant natural history and distributional information. Amphibians and reptiles have assumed a central role in research because of the diversity of ecological, physiological, morphological, behavioral, and evolutionary patterns they exhibit. This fully revised edition brings the latest research to the reader, ranging over topics in evolution, reproduction, behavior and more, allowing students and professionals to keep current with a quickly moving field. Heavily revised and updated with discussion of squamate (lizard and snake) taxonomy and new content reflected in current literature Includes increased focus on conservation biology in herpetology while retaining solid content on organismal biology of reptiles and amphibians Presents new photos included from authors' extensive library

Download or read book A Phylogenetic Study of Sceloporine Lizards and Their Relationships with Other Iguanid Lizards Based on DNA DNA Hybridization written by Lin-Ling Changchien and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 454 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Taxonomic Revision of the Phrynosoma Douglasii Species Complex Squamata written by Richard R. Montanucci and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Short-horned lizards (Phrynosoma douglasii species complex) occur throughout the inter-montane West and Great Plains of western North America. The comparative morphology and color pattern variation of short-horned lizards was studied in 3,174 specimens. Multivariate analyses of 20 morphological and color-pattern characters were applied to 977 specimens, and univariate statistics were summarized for 52 samples totaling 1,134 specimens. The results of the morphological data analyses support the recognition of P. douglasii (Bell 1828) as a distinct species, and the resurrection of P. brevirostris Girard 1858a and P. ornatissimum Girard 1858a as species distinct from P. hernandesi Girard 1858a. Two new species allied to P. brevirostris are described: P. bauri sp. nov. from the eastern plains of Colorado and northeastern New Mexico, southeastern Wyoming and southwestern Nebraska south of the North Platte River, and P. diminutum sp. nov. endemic to the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. The Mexican taxon brachycercum Smith 1942 is reassigned as a subspecies of P. ornatissimum, based on non-discrete character differences and overall morphometric similarity. The ranges of P. hernandesi and P. ornatissimum broadly overlap in central New Mexico, the former taxon occupying the coniferous forests of disjunct mountain ranges, the latter occuring in the surrounding desert grasslands. Principal components analysis has revealed morphological evidence of hybridization where the two taxa meet, generally within ecotones between montane forest associations and grasslands. Principal components analysis has also revealed a high level of morphological variability in populations occurring in the Colorado Plateau region of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, extreme southwestern Colorado and adjacent Utah. The evidence suggests that these populations arose through past hybridization between the two species. The taxon ornatum Girard 1858b, although sharing several traits with P. brevirostris, is morphologically close to P. hernandesi. It is regarded as a stabilized population of hybrid origin, but treated taxonomically as a subspecies of P. hernandesi. The taxonomic arrangement in this study, with the exception of P. douglasii, is largely discordant with the proposed taxonomy from a previously published study based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data.

Download or read book Library of Congress Subject Headings written by Library of Congress and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 1274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Lizards of the World written by Gordon H. Rodda and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2020-09-01 with total page 828 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first, definitive reference on the natural history and ecology of every one of the known 6500+ species of lizards, spanning the entire globe. Our planet is literally crawling with lizards. More than 6500 species are known to science, and new species are being discovered annually. In this monumental work, eminent researcher Gordon Rodda has created the first compilation of the natural histories of all the world's lizards and amphisbaenians, as well as the Tuatara. Although other books have attempted to survey the scope of adaptations present in the world's lizards, only Rodda has been able to quantify and summarize all species or higher taxa. Analyzing the relationships among traits such as morphologic characteristics, reproductive strategies, and food sources, Rodda uncovers novel insights into reptile ecology. Identifying 14 recurring character syndromes across all the world's lizards, he proposes a new lens for categorization. He also touches on • common names • geographic range • length • mass • age • maturation • differences between the sexes • nominal variables, including diel activity cycle and foraging mode • home range • predator avoidance tactics • thermal biology • social spacing • climate envelope • habitat and microhabitat • reproduction • parental care • diet • population density • conservation status • ecological business models Rodda's alphabetical taxon accounts provide an instantly retrievable sketch of every species, genus, and family. Outlining more than 1500 statistically significant associations extracted from a data matrix composed of more than 300 conditions tabulated—to the extent known—for all 6528 species of lizards, Lizards of the World will be the go-to source for the next generation of reptile ecologists, as well as herpetology students and serious herpetoculturists.

Download or read book Phylogenetic Comparative Methods in R written by Liam J. Revell and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2022-07-12 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An authoritative introduction to the latest comparative methods in evolutionary biology Phylogenetic comparative methods are a suite of statistical approaches that enable biologists to analyze and better understand the evolutionary tree of life, and shed vital new light on patterns of divergence and common ancestry among all species on Earth. This textbook shows how to carry out phylogenetic comparative analyses in the R statistical computing environment. Liam Revell and Luke Harmon provide an incisive conceptual overview of each method along with worked examples using real data and challenge problems that encourage students to learn by doing. By working through this book, students will gain a solid foundation in these methods and develop the skills they need to interpret patterns in the tree of life. Covers every major method of modern phylogenetic comparative analysis in R Explains the basics of R and discusses topics such as trait evolution, diversification, trait-dependent diversification, biogeography, and visualization Features a wealth of exercises and challenge problems Serves as an invaluable resource for students and researchers, with applications in ecology, evolution, anthropology, disease transmission, conservation biology, and a host of other areas Written by two of today’s leading developers of phylogenetic comparative methods

Download or read book Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of California written by Robert C. Stebbins and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2012-09-04 with total page 552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Since his first book on western amphibians in 1951, Stebbins has been recognized as the authoritative voice on this subject. This new book, written with McGinnis, continues that high standard of accuracy and usefulness. It is filled with entertaining anecdotes and user-friendly information. I recommend this to anyone getting their first introduction to the rich and diverse world of Californian herpetofauna.” -David Wake, Curator, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley “Dr. Robert Stebbins is the elder herpetological master of the American West, and this book has long been one of the finest state field guides to amphibians and reptiles. Now partnering to create a new, expanded edition with accomplished biologist Dr. Samuel McGinnis, a classic publication has become even better. Both the professional herpetologist and the weekend amateur naturalist will find this top-notch guide to be invaluable when exploring California's diverse landscapes.” -Alan St. John, author of Reptiles of the Northwest

Download or read book CRC World Dictionary of Palms written by Umberto Quattrocchi and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2017-08-03 with total page 3591 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the Foreword Umberto Quattrocchi has brought us some amazing and useful works through the various dictionaries that he has compiled. This time it is for two very important plant families the palms and the cycads that are synthesized here in these two volumes. Each entry is fascinating not just for the botany and full nomenclature of the plant species but for all the associated uses, folklore and interactions with other organisms. ...These entries are fascinating glimpses of natural history. ... Botanists, conservationists, ethnobotanists, anthropologists, geographers, bird watchers, naturalists, historians and those of many other disciplines will find these volumes a most valuable and useful resource. It is the sort of book that will be in frequent use in my library. ----- Professor Sir Ghillean Prance FRS, VMH, Former Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Following the same format as Umberto Quattrocchi’s highly praised and well-used previous works, The CRC World Dictionary of Palms: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology brings together the vast and scattered literature on palms and cycads to provide better access to information on these economically important plants. Each genus and species has a detailed morphological description and includes a list of synonyms and vernacular names in many languages. Bibliographies accompany each entry which are comprehensive, up-to-date and multi-lingual. The detailed information for every entry on habitats, economic uses, historical and biographical data, botanical exploration, and linguistics will be useful for any library involved with botany, herbal medicine, pharmacognosy, medicinal and natural product chemistry, ecology, ethnobotany, systematics, general plant science, agriculture or horticulture. Umberto Quattrocchi is the author of the bestselling CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names, winner of the prestigious Hanbury Botanical Garden Award. His most recent multi-volume work, CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants, received strong praise as being "... an unparalleled starting place—a tool of first resort for any thoughtful researcher. Quattrocchi and CRC have delivered a dictionary like no other, a learned finger pointing in the right direction." —John de la Parra, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, from Economic Botany, Vol. 68, 2014

Download or read book Global Biodiversity written by T. Pullaiah and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-12-07 with total page 590 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This fourth volume in the new multi-volume set Global Biodiversity is a rich resource on the biodiversity of a selection of countries in the Americas and in Australia. Chapters explore both wild and cultivated plants, wild and domesticated animals, and the variety of microbes of the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Australia, Paraguay, the United States, and Venezuela. The different chapters explore the geographical status, ecosystem diversity, species diversity, genetic diversity, and conservation efforts in each selected country. They focus on genetic diversity of crop plants/cultivated plants and domesticated animals and their wild relatives and also discuss the endangered and protected plants and animals of the respective counties. Other volumes in this series include coverage of selected countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa. The volumes provide an informative compilation on the variety and variability of life in the regions discussed and will help to fill the gap in knowledge while also encouraging the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilization.

Download or read book Mexican Natural Resources Management and Biodiversity Conservation written by Alfredo Ortega-Rubio and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-07-20 with total page 588 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents valuable and recent lessons learned regarding the links between natural resources management, from a Socio-Ecological perspective, and the biodiversity conservation in Mexico. It address the political and social aspects, as well as the biological and ecological factors, involved in natural resources management and their impacts on biodiversity conservation. It is a useful resource for researchers and professionals around the globe, but especially those in Latin American countries, which are grappling with the same Bio-Cultural heritage conservation issues.

Download or read book Reptiles of Costa Rica written by Twan Leenders and published by Comstock Publishing Associates. This book was released on 2019-08-15 with total page 643 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reptiles of Costa Rica, the long-awaited companion to Amphibians of Costa Rica, is the first ever comprehensive field guide to the crocodilians, turtles, lizards, and snakes of Costa Rica. A popular destination for tourists and biologists because of its biodiversity, the country is particularly rich in reptile fauna, boasting 245 species. The sheer diversity in shapes, sizes, colors, and natural history traits of these animals is beautifully displayed in this book. Lizards range from minuscule dwarf geckos to dinosaur-like iguanids, and everything in between, while the country's snakes include tiny eyeless wormsnakes, massive boas, as well as twenty-three dangerously venomous species, which include the largest vipers in the world. Author, photographer, and conservation biologist Twan Leenders has been researching and documenting the herpetofauna of Costa Rica for nearly twenty-five years. His explorations have taken him to remote parts of Costa Rica that few people ever visit, journeys that usually find him hauling an array of photographic equipment to document his finds. In addition to including more than 1,000 photographs, detailed black and white scientific illustrations, and range maps, this book also features paintings of anole dewlaps, a key identification feature for that very complex group of lizards. This new field guide will enable the reader to identify all species, while also providing a wealth of information about natural history, predation, breeding strategies, habitat preferences, and conservation of Costa Rica's reptile fauna.

Download or read book Reptiles written by Nicolae Sfetcu and published by Nicolae Sfetcu. This book was released on 2014-05-13 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today there are 6,800 reptile species on earth; the major groups are alligators and crocodiles, turtles, lizards, and snakes. Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane. Today they are represented by four surviving orders: crocodilia (crocodiles, caimans and alligators), sphenodontia (tuataras from New Zealand, squamata (lizards, snakes and amphisbaenids - "worm-lizards"), and testudines (turtles).

Download or read book West Southwest written by Gregory K. Pregill and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-06-04 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: West Southwest: Vertebrate Life in Southern California celebrates an amazingly diverse fauna with description, evolutionary background, geographic insight, and ecological detail. Southern California is a vast region of very different habitats – all with an abundance of unique species of plants and animals and all within a day’s drive. Southern California shares an evolutionary history with other areas of the Southwest, but it has its own identity. The book is not a field identification guide. Instead, the book provides the evolutionary history of species groups, details where the individual species occur and their habitat preferences, and how they avoid the perils of predation and human impact. Key Selling Features: Summarizes the evolutionary background and ecology of southern California’s vertebrates: freshwater fish, amphibians, turtles, snakes, lizards, birds and mammals. Reviews the history of southern California’s biotic communities from the coast to the deserts and their association with other areas of the Southwest. Discusses vertebrate design and how it affects performance and lifestyle. Extends and enhances the content of regional field identification guides. Includes 120 maps, figures and color plates.

Download or read book Texas Lizards written by Troy D. Hibbitts and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2015-05-15 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Texas offers the opportunity to observe lizard diversity like no other part of the country,” writes Laurie J. Vitt in the foreword to Texas Lizards. From the moist eastern Piney Woods to the western deserts, lizards can be found in every part of Texas. The state has forty-five native and six naturalized species of lizards, almost half of the 115 species that live in the continental United States. Yet Texas lizards have not received full coverage in regional field guides, and no other guide dedicated solely to the state’s lizards has ever been published. Texas Lizards is a complete identification guide to all fifty-one native and established exotic lizard species. It offers detailed species accounts, range maps, and excellent color photographs (including regional, gender, and age variations for many species) to aid field identification. The authors, two of the state’s most knowledgeable herpetologists, open the book with a broad overview of lizard natural history, conservation biology, observation, and captive maintenance before providing a key to Texas lizards and accounts of the various lizard families and species. Appendices list species of questionable occurrence in Texas and nonestablished exotic species. Informational resources on Texas lizards, a map of Texas counties, a glossary, a bibliography, and indexes of common and scientific names round out the volume.