Publisher's Synopsis
Moving beyond mere species identification, this innovative guide to the reptiles and amphibians of the southeastern pine forests emphasizes their interdependent ecologies and the conservation issues facing all pine woods herpetofauna.Written for a spectrum of reptile and amphibian enthusiasts, the book is organized by habitat from eastern Texas to North Carolina and south to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida. Included are detailed accounts, range maps, and color photos of the twenty-six native species or subspecies of frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, and turtles in the southern pine woods.After describing the habitat from the perspective of each individual species, Steven Reichling demonstrates the various ways in which these reptiles and amphibians have become intertwined for mutual survival in what is frequently an environment threatened by development and lumbering. He focuses on shared adaptations, ecological interactions, and dependency on a very distinctive habitat. Many of the threats throughout the southern pine woods require urgent action to ensure the survival of some species.This compelling read will be of value to southeastern ecologists, herpetologists, state and federal wildlife biologists and park managers, lumber company and pine plantation personnel, as well as herpetology enthusiasts. This guide reveals the interconnections among all reptile and amphibian species living in the pine forests from Texas to North Carolina.
