Turtles of the United States and Canada

Ernst and Lovich's thoroughly revised edition of this classic reference provides the most updated information ever assembled on the natural histories of North American turtles.

From diminutive mud turtles to giant alligator snappers, two of North America's most prominent experts describe the turtles that live in the fresh, brackish, and marine waters north of Mexico. Incorporating the explosion of new scientific information published on turtles over the past fifteen years--including the identification of four new species--Ernst and Lovich supply comprehensive coverage of all fifty-eight species, with discussions of conservation status and recovery efforts.

Each species account contains information on identification, genetics, fossil record, distribution, geographic variation, habitat, behavior, reproduction, biology, growth and longevity, food habits, populations, predators, and conservation status. The book includes range maps for freshwater and terrestrial species, a glossary of scientific names, an extensive bibliography for further research, and an index to scientific and common names.

Logically organized and richly illustrated--with more than two hundred color photographs and fifty-two maps-- Turtles of the United States and Canada remains the standard for libraries, museums, nature centers, field biologists, and professional and amateur herpetologists alike.

This impressive work, the standard reference for the subject, has been completely revised and updated, providing detailed information on 58 species, 4 of them newly discovered. In addition to revising the entire text, Ernst (emeritus, George Mason U.) and Lovich (U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center; both co-wrote the first edition with a third author, Roger W. Barbour) have written a new introduction. A chapter on conservation of turtles in the U.S. and Canada provides an overview of the status and threats and offers advice to the reader that chooses to keep turtles for pets. The entries that fill the volume, organized by genus and type, are remarkable for their thoroughness, with sections on recognition, karyotype, fossil record, distribution, geographic variation, confusing species, habitat, behavior, diet and feeding behavior, predators and defense, populations, and remarks. For well-studied species, the sections on behavior are lengthy and thorough. The result is an authoritative work that the naturalist can turn to for any question. The volume concludes with a glossary of scientific names, an exhaustive bibliography, and an index of common and scientific names. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)