Methos5K
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2014
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 42
- Points
- 28
- Location
- Twin Cities, MN
- Country
- United States
I received this title for Christmas and wanted to do a quick write up. Truly a tome of knowledge of all Salamander species in the Old World. The original book published in French, Robert Thorn's classic 1968 text, "Les Salamandres" was considered the standard. Behold the new authoritative, definitive book on the subject. Europe, Middle-east, Africa and Asia are all covered.
At 430 pages, this book is huge. Richly illustrated with all color photographs of each species and subspecies (both sexes); as well as habitats, breeding/courting behavior and detailed maps of the geographical range of each salamander. Animals with complex mating/courtship rituals have detailed step-by-step drawings/photos of the whole sequence. Amazing stuff.
Each species contains the following entries:
1) Description (complete physical information
2) Diagnosis (information on how to differentiate between similar species)
3) Eggs and larvae (descriptions)
4) Distribution ( geographical range)
5) Habitat (detailed information on their natural environment)
6) Behavior (species-specific general information)
7) Threats and conservation (very specific information about environmental threats, as well as legal legislation/conservation laws, i.e. protected in home country)
8) Observations in captivity (Difficulty in keeping and breeding)
9) Comments (Yes, even more information, of topics ranging from taxonomy to university/zoological notes)
10) References (individual sources of published/referenced material
The entire volume is cross-referenced to just about every single article/journal/book published in every language in the known universe. It retails for $160 US, but it is of the utmost quality. Thick, durable binding with quality paper. It is now the crown jewel of my always expanding salamander library.
Now can we get a companion volume for the New World? Please?
ISBN-13: 978-9050114851
ISBN-10: 9050114857
At 430 pages, this book is huge. Richly illustrated with all color photographs of each species and subspecies (both sexes); as well as habitats, breeding/courting behavior and detailed maps of the geographical range of each salamander. Animals with complex mating/courtship rituals have detailed step-by-step drawings/photos of the whole sequence. Amazing stuff.
Each species contains the following entries:
1) Description (complete physical information
2) Diagnosis (information on how to differentiate between similar species)
3) Eggs and larvae (descriptions)
4) Distribution ( geographical range)
5) Habitat (detailed information on their natural environment)
6) Behavior (species-specific general information)
7) Threats and conservation (very specific information about environmental threats, as well as legal legislation/conservation laws, i.e. protected in home country)
8) Observations in captivity (Difficulty in keeping and breeding)
9) Comments (Yes, even more information, of topics ranging from taxonomy to university/zoological notes)
10) References (individual sources of published/referenced material
The entire volume is cross-referenced to just about every single article/journal/book published in every language in the known universe. It retails for $160 US, but it is of the utmost quality. Thick, durable binding with quality paper. It is now the crown jewel of my always expanding salamander library.
Now can we get a companion volume for the New World? Please?
ISBN-13: 978-9050114851
ISBN-10: 9050114857
Last edited: