We are planning to move later this year. In an effort to make the move easier we are having a 20% off sale on everything in stock (except some consignment items).
Search our inventory at: HerplitSales.com
Use coupon code 20SALE during checkout - order total must be $20 or more to apply discount
Six prints by Robert Stebbins were recently sold through our ebay auctions. Five of these prints are hand signed by Stebbins.
These prints were made from paintings completed in 1981-82 and printed by Wildlife Impressions. Stebbin's painting have appeared in numerous books, including his Peterson's Fieldguide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Western United States.
The prints sold are titled:
Basking Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) 
On Display (Crotaphytus collaris) 
Formidable Foe (Crotalus cerastes) 
First Arrivals (Bufo boreas) 
Keeping Company (Gambelia silus) 
The Sentinel (Sauromalus obesus) 
You can see all of our eBay auctions at: http://www.ebay.com/sch/herpbooks/m.html? These prints will be listed during the week of January 7th to close seven days later.
Edited by Roy W. McDiarmid, Mercedes S. Foster, Craig Guyer, J. Whitfield Gibbons, and Neil Chernoff
From tiny, burrowing lizards to rainforest canopy-dwellers and giant crocodiles, reptile populations everywhere are changing. Yet government and conservation groups are often forced to make important decisions about reptile conservation and management based on inadequate or incomplete data. With contributions from nearly seventy specialists, this volume offers a comprehensive guide to the best methods for carrying out standardized quantitative and qualitative surveys of reptiles, while maximizing comparability of data between sites, across habitats and taxa, and over time. The contributors discuss each method, provide detailed protocols for its implementation, and suggest ways to analyze the data, making this volume an essential resource for monitoring and inventorying reptile abundance, population status, and biodiversity.
Reptile Biodiversity covers topics including: terrestrial, marine, and aquatic reptiles; equipment recommendations and limitations; ethics of monitoring and inventory activities; statistical procedures; designing sampling programs; and using PDAs in the field
Chapter 1. Studying Reptile Diversity
Chapter 2. Reptile Diversity and Natural History: an Overview
Chapter 3. Study Design and Sampling
The Value of Long-term Monitoring
Know Your Organisms
Using Geographical Information Systems to Design Reptile Surveys
Precautions for Quantitative Reptile Field Studies
Chapter 4. Dealing with Associated Data
Climate Data and Seasonality
Describing Microhabitats
Diversity, Distribution Maps, and Atlas Production
Automated Data Acquisition
Handheld Computers for Digital Data Collection
Databases, Metadata, and Integrated Data Management
Data Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Chapter 5. Finding and Capturing Reptiles
Detecting, Counting, and Sampling Squamates
Funnel Traps, Pitfall Traps, and Drift Fences
Specialized Trapping of Snakes over Large Areas
Finding, Counting, and Catching Crocodiles
Collaboration with Local People for Sampling Reptiles
Chapter 6. Voucher Specimens
Chapter 7. Preparing Reptiles as Scientific Specimens
Preparing Scientific Specimens
Collecting and Preserving Embryos
Collecting and Preserving Parasites during Reptile Biodiversity Surveys
Collecting and Preserving Tissues for Biochemical Analysis
Chapter 8. Dealing with Live Reptiles
Ethical Considerations in Working with Reptiles
Handling Live Reptiles: Leave Your Ego at the Door
Anesthesia in Reptiles
Standard Data from Live Specimens
Chapter 9. Marking Reptiles
Chapter 10. Determining Age, sex, and Reproductive Condition
Chapter 11. Techniques for Difficult-to-Sample Habitats
Rock-dwelling reptiles
Snake Hibernacula and Communal Denning
Arboreal Reptiles: Tree-trunk and Canopy-dwelling Species
Swamp-dwelling Crocodilians
Detecting and Capturing Turtles In Freshwater Habitats
Alternative Methods For Sampling Freshwater Turtles and Squamates
Sampling Marine And Estuarial Reptiles
Chapter 12. Statistical Properties of Techniques and Validation
Chapter 13. Standard Techniques for Inventory and Monitoring
Selecting a Technique
Complete Species Inventories
Road Riding
Visual Encounter Surveys
Quadrat Sampling
Permanent Plots with Mark-recapture
Transect Surveys, including Line Distance
Pitfall-Trap Surveys
Sampling with Artificial Cover
Reptile Sign and Camera Traps
Nest and Track Surveys
Aerial Surveys for Marine Turtles
Chapter 14. Parametric Analysis of Reptilian Biodiversity Data
Chapter 15. Population Size and Demographics
Relative Abundance in Snakes: A Case Study
Chapter 16. Studying and Monitoring Exploited Species
Chapter 13. Reptile Biodiversity: Where Do We Go From Here
Appendix I. Selected Institutions with Significant Collections of Reptiles
Appendix II. Websites of Interest
Literature Cited
Edited by Matthew Niemiller and R. Graham Reynolds
Brimming with color photographs and reflecting the latest scientific research, this book is the definitive guide to the rich diversity of frogs and salamanders found throughout Tennessee. Featuring detailed accounts of all eighty of the state’s species of amphibians, it will delight and inform the professional scientist and amateur naturalist alike.
The species accounts form the core of the book. Each account includes the scientific and common name of the species (with etymology of the scientific name); information on size, physical appearance, and coloration of adults, juveniles, and larvae; an up-to-date GIS range map showing both county records and potential ranges; and details on similar species, habitat, natural history, conservation status, and more. High-quality photographs illustrate the life stages of the various species.
Among the book’s other valuable features are detailed drawings and taxonomic keys to assist with identification, as well as introductory chapters that encompass amphibian biology and conservation and the geology and habitats of Tennessee. Sprinkled throughout the book are lively personal accounts, called “Field Notes,” which describe successful amphibian hunts.
The only complete work of its kind for the Volunteer State and generously supported by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, The Amphibians of Tennessee fills a long-standing need for both a popular identification guide and an authoritative reference.
By Carl H. Ernst and Evelyn M. Ernst
Carl and Evelyn Ernst have completely revised their landmark referenceVenomous Reptiles of North America to present the most comprehensive review of these animals in years.
Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexicorepresents the latest research on these animals and includes the most extensive bibliography of literature on the subject. Anyone with an interest in venom, snakes, or herpetology in general will find a wealth of information within the pages of these impressive volumes.
Volume 1: Heloderma, Micruroides, Micurus, Pelamis, Agkistrodon, Sistrurus
Volume One of this definitive work presents dramatically improved species accounts of the venomous lizards and elapid and viperid snakes found north of Mexico's twenty-fifth parallel. Volume Two will cover the twenty-one rattlesnakes found in the United States, Canada, and, for the first time, species found only in northern Mexico.
Volume 2 of this definitive work covers the twenty-one species of the genus Crotalus found in the United States, Canada, and, for the first time, those found in northern Mexico.
Mixing their own research with careful data description and intriguing stories, Ernst and Ernst present the most accurate and interesting view of North America's rattlesnakes available. They provide general background information on Crotalus, including venom delivery systems, how rattles function, what rattlesnakes eat, and what eats rattlesnakes. Additionally, they offer specific and fascinating details, such as observations of rattlesnakes swimming to offshore islands, accounts of male combat bouts, possible "anting" behavior in Crotalus viridis, and the features of the Santa Catalina Island rattleless rattlesnake. Each species account includes vivid photographs, range maps, and explanations of the limits to their respective distribution.
The book begins with a preface describing the status of living tortoises. Despite the dire descriptions, the author emphasizes that there is still hope for the long term survival of most tortoise species. The first couple of chapters define tortoises and discuss the variety of their biology and natural history. The third chapter outlines many of the threats to tortoises, such as habitat destruction, disease, and incidental killing (e.g., road kill). All along the way the author offers good examples using a variety of tortoise species and situations. The fourth chapter, entitled, "Eating Tortoises" was quite enlightening for me. I had no idea what a huge, world-wide problem the consumption of turtles is, or how massive the effect of consumption is on global tortoise populations. Giant tortoises that live on islands are the subject of chapter 5, with both the causes of their decline as well as their conservation discussed in detail. Finally, the problem of captive tortoises is discussed in chapter 6. From the desire to have the really rare tortoise to the seemingly benign desire to simply have any pet tortoise, the author covers a wide variety of issues associated with the captive trade in tortoises and its effect on wild populations. Chapter 7 offers potential solutions by highlighting some successful conservation strategies. This is followed by a final chapter of hope that people will change their ways to protect tortoises. The author also includes some useful appendices: extremes of the tortoise world; tortoises on the brink of extinction; tortoise species; and further reading.
Overall I found this book interesting and informative. I am not well versed with most of the species the author discusses, but I was working on Desert Tortoises in 1988-1989 when the western Mojave populations were emergency listed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Here I found a couple of minor errors in the book. The author indicated that captive desert tortoises were released into the wild as a result of the emergency listing: "When tortoise owners learned that the pets they had taken from the wild years earlier were now on the endangered species list, many responded in the best-intended way possible. They put the tortoise in the car, drove him back out to the desert, and released him with a sense of having done something good in the world.... Within a few years of the initial listing of desert tortoises as threatened, biologists began to find wild tortoises that were sick."
In fact, upper respiratory disease syndrome was one of the major factors in getting the species listed, not a result of the listing. Personally, I think it is hopeful to think many people would take the time to drive back out to the desert to release their captive tortoise. I am sure it happened, both before and after the species was listed as threatened, but I am somewhat dubious that the listing had much effect on the number of tortoises released.
Dispite the herpetological title and cover, this book is primarily a coming of age story with a herpetological subtext. After graduating from a private high school and finding himself unable to get into any of the universities that he had applied for, Will Chaffey decided to go to Australia. With little knowledge of the country and virtually no plans of what to do when he got there, Chaffey scraped by working for room and board. Eventually he moved on — working his way through other parts of Australia — meeting "Jeff" Cunningham along the way. Jeff had a keen interest in herpetology, particularly in finding the Rough Scaled Python (Morelia carinata).
The bulk of the book consists of Will and Jeff's journey through the Kimberly's in northwestern Australia. This remote and largely unexplored portion of Australia is of particular interest to herpetologists because of the presence of the Rough Scaled Python as well as the prospects of discovering new species. Somehow the author managed to get funding from Australian Geographic Magazine for this expedition, and with somewhat haphazard planning the they flew into the Drysdale River Station. From Drysdale River they began their journey on foot, west to Prince Regent Sound, where they planned to hitch a ride on a tourist boat. Along the way they hoped to find a Rough Scaled Python.
Unfortunately, for readers hoping for something of herpetological interest, very little of the book discusses the primary goal of the journey. Reptiles are occasionally mentioned, but only in passing. The focus of the book is the personal struggle to survive and the coming of age story of a young man trying to find his place in the world.
Even with minimal herpetological content, this book is a good read for anyone interested in the remote Australian northwest. The Kimberly's is an area that many herpetologists have dreamed of going, and this book is a good way to experience the area, until you are able to get there yourself.
I have been having a little difficulty programming a search engine for the Herplit Database to search for predefined journals. Once I get this programmed you will be able to view the current contents of several journals, by selecting the journal and clicking search. Until that is ready I have come up with another option to deliver the current contents of herpetological journals — a newsletter. In the upper right corner of the homepage is a place to sign up for newsletters. If you would like the contents of several herpetological journals emailed to you as I receive them, please sign up for this newsletter. If you don't want to subscribe you can simply click on the "Current Herpetological Contents" link for the newsletter and you will be able to see the previous emails. I plan to list a single journal in each newsletter to facilitate seaching through the archive by journal and issue.
In addition to signing up for the newsletter, I recommend registering for the website (in the left column). Registration allows you to: comment on blog entries, such as this one; add web links in the links section; and even upload images from old books for the classic illustrations section. I will be adding more user features in the future.
I received this plate several years ago, but have been unable to determine the original book it came from. The plate itself contains very little information — no artist or engraver. In the upper left is "Vol. 1. pa. 147" - This at least tells me the book is in English and probably published in London. The plate has wide margins and the total size is about 14.5" x 9" (37 x 22 cm).
From the anthropomorphic characterizations of the oran-utan, ape, and even the serpent, I had assumed the plate was from the 1600s. Recently I was thumbing through Ramona and Desmond Morris' 1966 book, Men and Apes when I spotted a very similar illustration of the Oran-utan. This illustration came from Daniel Beeckman. 1718. A Voyage to and from the Island of Borneo, in the East Indies... T. warner, London.
I was able to get a copy of the 1973 reprint of Beeckman's voyage to see if it also included the hooded serpent and Java ape — it doesn't. I do not know if Beeckman's voyage was published in multiple editions - an official report and a popular account. The reprint is of a popular account. So it is possible that the plate I have came from an official report, if one exists.
More likely the Beeckman was the original source for the illustration and the copy I have appeared in a later book, perhaps and encyclopedia.
I have also been able to find a similar illustration of the hooded serpent. There is a copy on Brown University's library website dated 1774. Although I originally found it on the
blog: A journey Around My Skull. This illustration is from The Royal American Magazine, or Universal Repository of Instruction and Amusement, May, 1774 (They just don't name magazines like they used to...). This 1774 illustration lacks some of the detail of the hooded serpent in the plate I have, but is clearly based upon it, or a related copy. Given that the 1774 illustration lacks detail, I would guess that my plate was published between 1718 and 1774.
Eventually I hope to discuss the evolution of natural history illustration. This engraving is a good example of the anthropomorphic style from the 17th and early 18th centuries when artists frequently had to illustrate animals from written descriptions, or at best a carcass, or stuffed specimen.
I would be most grateful for any comments or insights to the origin of this plate.
Leslie Anthony
When I first heard about this book, I was somewhat suspicious — 'Confessions of a herpetologist' — who is Leslie Anthony? I searched my herpetological database and came up with nothing. When the book arrived, it was clear that he was a herpetologist —not just someone who likes amphibians and reptiles and decided to write a book about it. He has a Ph.D. in herpetology from the University of Toronto and was a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University's Redpath Museum. His acknowledgements include a number of well known herpetologists; still I couldn't find a single herpetological publication by him. Thus I started to read the book with dubious curiosity.
By the time I finished the prologue, I was hooked. Anthony's writing style is engaging and his insights into the herpetological community and biology of amphibians and reptiles are genuine and accurate. Since he completed his postdoc, Anthony has worked as an outdoors/sports journalist. The origins of this book stemmed from a trip to Finland to write ski story for an international travel magazine. While working on the story he found himself in the Arctic circle watching snakes (Vipera berus) sunning in rock outcrops surrounded by snow and skiiers. While observing these snakes in such an unlikely location, and after having been out of mainstream herpetology for a number of years, Anthony was struck by how important amphibians and reptiles had been in his life and he suddenly wanted to know why — and why his life was so distant from these animals now. Thus began the journey that led to this book. A journey of remembrance, renewing old acquaintances, and reliving past adventures.
Without going into too many details of the book, Anthony begins by recounting his childhood collecting amphibians and reptiles near Toronto. Eventually he landed a job on a faunal survey and became the herpetologist on the team. This work opened the door for him to meet James P. Bogert, who became his graduate advisor for his Masters. Anthony returned to Toronto for his Ph.D. under Robert W. Murphy, where among other things he played guitar in Rommy — the first and only phylogenetic rock opera (1988). He returned to play again in the tenth anniversary concert of Rommy II in 1998. During his postdoc at McGill's Redpath Museum Anthony worked with David M. Green.
Throughout his herpetological career, Anthony went on several herpetological expedtions, most with Robert W. Murphy, to places such as Baja California, Vietnam, and Armenia. These trips as well as several others make up a large portion of the book. The exotic locations are made all the more exotic by the expedition members and the author's ability to tell a good story. But herpetological expeditions make up only a part of his journey to examine his past herpetological life. In 2006, Anthony returned to the joint ASIH/SSAR/HL meetings in New Orleans. His part retrospective, part insider commentary on herpetological meetings is insightful, although many herpetologists may disagree with some of his observations — and ichthyologists will wholehartedly disregard his observations as rubbish.
At the end of his journey to uncover the importance of amphibians and reptiles in his life, Anthony writes:
"I owed a lot to herpetologists. Ultimately, they'd delivered me an understanding that no type of blind faith could ever serve up. Most importantly, I'd learned how to question and why. They had also given me laughter, absurdity, knowledge, deep time, discovery, healthy fear, and sheer terror. But if herpetologists... had taught me how to look at the world, then snakes had shown me how to see it. From within and never without. As part and not apart. Snakes led the way to a lifetime of natural appreciation. They'd also brought a sense of mystery, reverence, and true beauty. So I was indebted to them too..."
I think most herpetologists I know could easily agree with these sentiments. I also think most herpetologists would enjoy this book. It is very well written and engaging from the very beginning. Anthony pulls in tidbits from a wide variety of sources (Ditmars, Minton, and Francesco Redi to name a few). There is much in this book that herpetologists will be able to relate to. There are also several characters in this book that are well known in herpetological circles. If you have any inclination towards biographies or true life adventures, you will probably enjoy this book. My only criticism of the book is that there are no photographs — of people, places, or animals.
After reading this book, I was armed with a bit more information about the author — where and what he studied — so I did another quick search to discover why I didn't have any references to any of his many publications. I quickly discovered that I had been led astray by the book. The author of the book is Leslie Anthony, however as a herpetologist he is known as Leslie A. Lowcock. Search for him using this name and you'll find a number of publications. If, like me, you have reservations about reading a book subtitled 'Confessions of a herpetologist' because you can't link the author to any herpetological research, you can cast those doubts aside. The author was (is) an able herpetologist.
Destruction of habitat due to urban sprawl, pollution, and deforestation has caused population declines or even extinction of many of the world's approximately 2,600 snake species. Furthermore, misconceptions about snakes have made them among the most persecuted of all animals, despite the fact that less than a quarter of all species are venomous and most species are beneficial because they control rodent pests. It has become increasingly urgent, therefore, to develop viable conservation strategies for snakes and to investigate their importance as monitors of ecosystem health and indicators of habitat sustainability.Turtles of the United States and Canada, 2nd Edition
Carl H. Ernst and Jeffrey E. Lovich
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.
Suggested Retail $95.00
In updating the classic herpetological illustrations I just added a plate of salamanders from:
Méhelÿ, Lajos. 1895. A magyarországi farkos kétéltüek álczái (Larvae amphibiorum urodelorum Hungarieae). Természetrajzi Füzetek. 18 (3-4): 149-165; 270-288, 1 plate.
The salamanders featured on this plate are, from top: 1. Salamandra salamandra (listed as Salamandra maculosa), 2. Ichthyosaura alpestris (listed as Molge alpestris), 3. Lissotriton montandoni (listed as Molge montandoni), 4. Lissotriton vulgaris (listed as Molge vulgaris), 5. Triturus cristatus (listed as Molge cristata)
Our website has been in desperate need of updating for a long time now, and finally I have started this process. Many of the features of this new website are similar to the old one - but just work better. I'll try to give a brief overview of these, plus some of my plans for future additions.
The 'Main Menu' lists options available to everyone. Obviously the 'Herplit Blog' link will bring you to this blog. Why a blog on a bookstore website? — I am hoping that herplit.com is more than just a bookstore website. My goal has always been to provide a service to the herpetological community. With this blog I plan to announce updates to other sections of the website, particularly the classic illustrations gallery (see below). I will also provide book reviews and comments on books, both new, used, and antiquarian. In addition, I have ended up with several plates from old books and many of these will be featured on the blog. Finally, I have two six-year-olds and I will discuss my efforts to give them an appreciation of natural history and encourage their curiosity in the world. This will be done in the context of of the book "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv — Highly recommended to anyone with young kids. In order to facilitate discussion, registered users will be able to comment on any blog posts.
The 'Select Inventory' and 'Inventory' links will open new windows for my inventories on HerplitSales.com and ABEbooks.com respectively. HerplitSales.com contains items from the Gow library and is a better place to see some of the rarebooks I have in stock as well as some of the bargain books that are available. ABEbooks lists most of my inventory, including most of the reprints and journal issues. Until I am satisfied with another shopping cart system, these two sites will be the best way to buy books online from me. Of course you are always welcome to order via email, telephone, fax or regular mail.
The 'Herplit Database' link will take you to a new bibliography program that I found for the web. Right now it seems to work okay with journal articles, but not with books or book chapters. I am working on getting this taken care of. I am also working on getting a better search engine written for the database. The old 'Herpetological Contents page' will be included in this database through links in the 'User Menu' once you are on the Herplit Database page. I will still try to provide email address links to the author for reprint requests, and in some cases I can link a website (for online publications) or to a pdf on another website. Copyright issues prevent me from creating a pdf library, but I can link to other websites with pdfs provided they hold the copyright.
'Classic Illustrations' will take you to selection of galleries. I haven't updated my old website with classic illustrations for quite a while. This new gallery makes it much easier and I hope to start adding new books to this page on a regular basis.
'Links' I have started to add links, mainly to herpetological societies, journals, and bibliographies that were linked on my contents page. However, this new links page will allow any registered user to submit links. All of these will be monitored to prevent abuse and any abusers will be blocked from creating links. I have provided several categories for links, but please let me know if you have any suggestions for additional categories. The links are also included in the website search in the upper right corner.
Below the main menu is the login form. Once you create an account, you'll have one login for the entire site. You'll also see a different user menu.
On the right side of the home page is an area to subscribe to my new additions emails. These consist of about 100 items per list of items I am adding to my inventory. The vast majority are papers/separates, but I also include books. Occasionally I offer special sales - only through these lists. This module will also allow you to unsubscribe at any time.
'Herp Happenings' is a calendar of events. At this point I have only added herpetological meetings and symposia. I have considered adding other events, but right now I don't want to start adding Expos since there are too many of them and there are other sites which list these.
'This Day in History' is mostly a trivia module. I have started to enter the dates of birth and death for some herpetologists and I plan to continue to add these as I find time. Other dates of significance will certainly be considered - just send them to me.
That pretty much sums up the website as it currently stands. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Bibliomania! opened in January 1995 as a specialized bookstore serving the herpetological community. Since that time our inventory has grown to include both new and used books as well as antiquarian books. Perhaps the largest portion of our inventory is taken up by separates and journals, with more than 30,000 currently inventoried and thousands more waiting to be inventoried.
Our inventory is listed on two different websites: HerplitSales.com and ABEbooks.com. HerplitSales.com contains featured books, as well as special catalogues (individual libraries/collections) and bargain books. ABEbooks.com lists almost all of our inventory. However, ABEbooks, charges postage at set rates, I would recommend searching ABEbooks, then ordering directly from us via email. Credit card information can be sent via a secure server at HerplitSales.com with an empty cart.
Contact information:
Bibliomania!
P.O. Box 58355
Salt Lake City, UT 84158
USA
Telephone: 801-562-2660
Fax: 801-590-6005
Email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please wait...