Herpetology, Fourth Edition, explains why amphibians and reptiles,
which are distantly related evolutionary lineages, are nonetheless
grouped in the discipline known as herpetology, and describes the
position of amphibians and reptiles within the evolution of vertebrates.
Initial chapters present the fossil history of amphibians and reptiles
and the phylogenetic relationships of extant groups, with descriptions
of the biological characteristics of each family and photographs of
representative species. The phylogenetic and biogeography chapters have
been extensively revised to incorporate the most recent molecular
phylogenetic information, including extensive discussion of the
expanding field of phylogeography. Subsequent chapters consider
amphibians and reptiles from morphological, physiological, ecological,
and behavioral perspectives. The book concludes with a discussion of the
threats facing amphibians and reptiles and approaches to conserving
herpetological diversity.
Herpetology, Fourth Edition, serves as a textbook for undergraduate
and graduate-level courses and as a comprehensive source of information
about amphibians and reptiles for professional biologists, hobbyists,
and interested laypersons.
