With a wide variety of habitats ranging from southeastern swamps to western deserts, Texas is home to numerous species of frogs, toads, and salamanders. Each area of Texas has a particular set of species that has evolved there over thousands of years. Indeed, most amphibians are not very mobile, and many live their entire lives within a few square meters. This makes them particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation and habitat destruction.
Texas Amphibians is the only field guide focused exclusively on the state's frogs, toads, and salamanders. It presents brief, general accounts of the two orders and fifteen families. Then it identifies each of the seventy-two species in detail, including size, description, voice (if applicable), similar species, distribution (with maps), natural history, reproduction, subspecies (if applicable), and comments and conservation information. Color photographs illustrate the species.
The book also includes a general introduction to amphibian natural history, conservation, observation and collection, maintenance in captivity, museum and preserved specimens, and scientific and common names, as well as scientific keys to Texas salamanders and frogs and a generic key to amphibian larvae. This wealth of information, compiled by a team of experts who collectively have over a century of experience in field herpetology, will increase our appreciation for amphibians and the vital role they play as an early indicator of threats to the quality of the environment that we all share.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"Texas Amphibians is the only field guide focused exclusively on the state's frogs, toads, and salamanders. It presents brief, general accounts of the two orders and fifteen families. Then it identifies each of the seventy-two species in details, including size, description, voice (if applicable), similar species, distribution (with maps), natural history, reproduction, subspecies (if applicable), and conservation information. Color photographs illustrate the species... This is a wealth of information, compiled by a team of experts who collectively have over a century of experience in field herpetology, will increase our appreciation for amphibians and the vital role they play as an early indicator of the threats to the quality of the environment that we share." - Ian Paulsen, GrrlsScientist Hosted by the Guardian, August 19th 2012
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Sprache
Verlagsort
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Maße
Höhe: 184 mm
Breite: 114 mm
Dicke: 25 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-292-73735-8 (9780292737358)
DOI
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
The late Bob L. Tipton was a businessman, author, and research associate at the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection at Texas A&M University.
Terry L. Hibbitts, a trained biologist, is an Honorary Life Member, past president, and current editor of the Texas Herpetological Society.
Troy D. Hibbitts, a high school science teacher, is also a past president and current member of the Texas Herpetological Society.
Toby J. Hibbitts is Curator of Herpetology at Texas A&M University's Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection.
Travis J. LaDuc is Assistant Curator of Herpetology at the Texas Natural Science Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Foreword By James R. Dixon
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Natural History
Seasonality
Habitat
Reproduction
Loss and Regeneration of Body Parts
Glands, Toxins, and Chemical Defenses
Conservation
Habitat Destruction
Pollution
Introduced Species
Collecting and Trade of Animals as a Cause of Decline
Chytridiomycosis
Observing and Collecting Amphibians
Observing Amphibians
Photographing Amphibians
Collecting Amphibians
Legal Aspects of Collecting Amphibians
Permits and Collecting Amphibians in Texas
Threatened, Endangered, or Protected Nongame Species
Maintenance of Amphibians
Maintaining Amphibians in Captivity
Creating a Natural Setting
Handling Amphibians
Museum and Preserved Amphibian Specimens
Scientific and Common Names
Keys
Key to the Salamanders of Texas
Key to the Frogs of Texas
Generic Key to Amphibian Larvae
Systematic Accounts
Order Caudata: Salamanders
Family Ambystomidae: Mole Salamanders
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
Barred Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium)
Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)
Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)
Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
Family Amphiumidae: Amphiumas
Three-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma tridactylum)
Family Plethodontidae: Lungless Salamanders
Salado Salamander (Eurycea chisholmensis)
Cascade Caverns Salamander (Eurycea latitans)
San Marcos Salamander (Eurycea nana)
Georgetown Salamander (Eurycea naufragia)
Texas Salamander (Eurycea neotenes)
Fern Bank Salamander (Eurycea pterophila)
Dwarf Salamander (Eurycea quadridigitata)
Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni)
Blanco Blind Salamander (Eurycea robusta)
Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum)
Jollyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tonkawae)
Comal Blind Salamander (Eurycea tridentifera)
Valdina Farms Salamander (Eurycea troglodytes)
Austin Blind Salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis)
Comal Springs Salamander (Eurycea species #1)
Pedernales River Springs Salamander (Eurycea species #2)
Southern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus auriculatus)
Western Slimy Salamander (Plethodon albagula)
Family Proteidae: Waterdogs, or Mudpuppies
Gulf Coast Waterdog (Necturus beyeri)
Family Salamandridae: Newts
Black-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis)
Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)
Family Sirenidae: Sirens
Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia)
Rio Grande Siren (Siren species "Rio Grande")
Order Anura: Frogs
Family Bufonidae: True Toads
American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus)
Green Toad (Anaxyrus debilis)
Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)
Houston Toad (Anaxyrus houstonensis)
Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus)
Texas Toad (Anaxyrus speciosus)
Woodhouse's Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii)
Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius nebulifer)
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina)
Family Hylidae: Tree Frogs
Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans)
Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor)
Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)
Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)
Squirrel Treefrog (Hyla squirella)
Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
Spotted Chorus Frog (Pseudacris clarkii)
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum)
Strecker's Chorus Frog (Pseudacris streckeri)
Mexican Treefrog (Smilisca baudinii)
Family Craugastoridae: Northern Rain Frogs
Barking Frog (Craugastor augusti)
Family Eleutherodactylidae: Robber Frogs
Rio Grande Chirping Frog (Syrrhophus cystignathoides)
Spotted Chirping Frog (Syrrhophus guttilatus)
Cliff Chirping Frog (Syrrhophus marnockii)
Family Leptodactylidae: Neotropical Grass Frogs
Mexican White-lipped Frog (Leptodactylus fragilis)
Family Microhylidae: Narrow-mouthed Toads
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)
Great Plains Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea)
Sheep Frog (Hypopachus variolosus)
Family Scaphiopodidae: Spadefoots
Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii)
Hurter's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus hurterii)
Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons)
Mexican Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata)
Family Ranidae: True Frogs
Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus)
Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri)
Plains Leopard Frog (Lithobates blairi)
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)
Pig Frog (Lithobates grylio)
Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)
Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)
Family Rhinophrynidae: Burrowing Toads
Mexican Burrowing Toad (Rhinophrynus dorsalis)
Appendix A. Possible Additional Species for Texas
Appendix B. Learning More About Amphibians: Resources
Glossary
Bibliography
Index of Common Names
Index of Scientific Names
