|
New Kansas Herp Book
CNAH ANNOUNCEMENT
The Center for North American Herpetology
Lawrence, Kansas
http://www.cnah.org
20 July 2010
New Book
AMPHIBIANS, REPTILES, AND TURTLES IN KANSAS
by Joseph T. Collins
Suzanne L. Collins
& Travis W. Taggart
with artwork by Errol D. Hooper, Jr.
and photography by Suzanne L. Collins
Published by Eagle Mountain Publishing, LLC
Designed by Megan Davies, TM Creative
Since the early 1990s, molecular research has more accurately defined the relationships of amphibians, reptiles, and turtles in Kansas (and throughout the world), and has changed many of the scientific names. However, the standardized common names used over the last half century continue to be used in this book opposite the most current scientific names. The continued use of standardized common names permits easy understanding of this new book when comparing it to information in earlier Kansas guides or the most comprehensive national herpetological reference, the "Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Third Edition Expanded."
Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles in Kansas is a book about the salamanders, frogs and toads, lizards and snakes, and turtles of Kansas, displayed in vivid color through the lens craft of co-author Suzanne L. Collins (Peterson Field Guides, Kansas Wildlife, Kansas Wetlands, and many other books). Innovative features in the book include the recognition of turtles, Class Chelonia, as a distinct evolutionary lineage, the inclusion of a phylogeny for the Phylum Chordata and for each of the traditionally recognized herpetofaunal groups (salamanders, lizards, turtles, etc.), the elimination of subspecies (because they are evolutionarily uninformative), and dot maps showing precise localities for all species in the state.
A bibliography of over 1,700 papers and books, the most complete ever assembled for any state field guide, is appended. All range maps are in color and color dots show specific localities in each county for each species, thanks to the expertise of co-author Travis W. Taggart, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University. The text includes the most current data for each kind of amphibian, reptile, and turtle found in Kansas. Endangered or threatened status is noted where relevant. Errol D. Hooper, Jr. of Greentop, Missouri, has illustrated a complete identification key for use in classroom labs at the high school and college level. Maximum size for each kind of amphibian, turtle, and reptile is included along with the name of the collector and date of collection; in addition, the maximum weight for some of the larger species is listed. Information about identification, size, and distribution in Kansas, natural history, and pertinent references are presented for each of the nearly 100 kinds of amphibians, reptiles, and turtles found in the state.
Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles in Kansas is sponsored by the Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University and with substantial financial support from Westar Energy, Touchstone Energy, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Through the generosity of these sponsors, numerous color images and maps appear throughout the book and permit it to be offered less expensively in bookstores and online. This will make it available to more Kansans, as well as to more schools and libraries across the state and nation.
For more information about the book, contact the senior author at (785) 393-4757.
Book specifications:
Date published: 19 July 2010
Size: 6 x 9 inches
Hardcover with dust jacket
497 color images
97 color maps
65 B&W Illustrations
xvi + 312 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9720154-5-5
Cost: $30.00
To order, contact:
Eagle Mountain Publishing, LC
7705 Wyatt Earp Avenue
Eagle Mountain, Utah 84005
Phone: (801) 789-4149
Fax: (801) 789-4150
empub@msn.com
http://www.eaglemountainpublishing.com
VISA, MasterCard, and Discover accepted
Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins & Travis W. Taggart. Eagle Mountain Publishing, LC. xvi + 312 pp.
ISBN 978-0-9720154-5-5. $30.00.
|
