The revised edition of this well-loved guide is the essential reference for the identification of amphibians and reptiles in the Great Lakes region. Fully updated treatments of over 70 species feature detailed information on the distribution, habitat, behavior, and life history of these fascinating animals. This edition includes all new distribution maps as well as 90 additional color photographs showing close-ups of distinguishing features, common color phases, and different metamorphic stages. A thorough introduction provides a wealth of information on the evolution, natural history, classification, and conservation of these animals and examines changing Great Lakes ecosystems and their impact on herpetological diversity. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region is a must-have resource for teachers, students, naturalists, professional biologists, and anyone else with an interest in this region’s ecology.

A revised and updated guide to reptiles and amphibians in the Great Lakes region

Revised and expanded edition of the classic Mammals of the Great Lakes Region

Revised and expanded edition of the classic Mammals of the Great Lakes Region.

""One day I was gazing out my window at a stretch of trees when I was suddenly struck with the realization that I couldn't name any of them .... like most Americans, I had somehow become an adult who could not claim even an elementary knowledge of my natural neighborhood."" "Thus begins Mary Blocksma's ambitious quest to identify the flora and fauna of her Great Lakes home. With no big program, no particular organization, Blocksma sets out to identify her environment just a name at a time, a few times a week, for a year. Covering everything from blue moons and bald eagles to arbor vitae and lake-effect snow, this book transports the armchair explorer out of the living room and into the forests and wetlands of the Great Lakes." "In this charming guide to the everyday but often overlooked ecological treasures that await the would-be naturalist, you'll find not just the names of plants and animals but tips on buying bird feeders, identifying spiders, and telling a blue jay from a belted kingfisher. Packed with helpful hints, novel trivia, and a useful "guide to guidebooks," Great Lakes Nature is sure to delight and educate."--BOOK JACKET.

The most thorough, updated guide to frogs and toads in the United States and Canada available. A stunning diversity of frog species can be found from coastal swamps to lofty mountain peaks, and from the Florida Keys to the Arctic Ocean. They live in subtropical lowlands, grassland prairies, deserts, and alpine-tundra habitats. Some species have restricted habitat requirements, whereas others occur contiguously from the arid plains or humid southeastern forests to the high tundra. In this new edition of Frogs of the United States and Canada, C. Kenneth Dodd Jr. tours the reader through the marvelous world of North American frogs. Covering 114 native and introduced species from all US states and Canadian provinces, this comprehensive reference on the biology, behavior, and conservation of the Order Anura includes detailed and updated information on • past and present distribution • life history and demography • reproduction and diet • landscape ecology and evolution • diseases, parasites, and threats from toxic substances • conservation and management Hundreds of occurrence maps, line drawings, and new color photographs of frogs and their habitats enhance the text. The most thorough treatment of the life histories, distribution, and status of North American frogs ever produced, Frogs of the United States and Canada has been the go-to reference for naturalists, scientists, and resource managers in their efforts to understand and conserve frogs, their habitats, and biodiversity for over a decade. Based on a meticulously updated examination of more than 8,000 references current through 2021, this second edition ensures Dodd's master work will remain an unparalleled resource for years to come.

". . . encourage[s] hope and resilience in times of devastating damage."—New York Review of Books This user-friendly guide is the only complete resource that identifies and describes all the amphibians and reptiles—salamanders, frogs and toads, lizards, snakes, and tortoises and turtles—that live in California. The species are described in richly detailed accounts that include range maps, lifelike color paintings by Robert C. Stebbins, clear drawings of various life stages including eggs, notes on natural history, and conservation status. Easy-to-use keys for every order help identify species, and informative chapters cover more general topics including evolution, habitat loss, and photography. Throughout, anecdotes and observations reveal new insights into the lives of California’s abundant but often hidden amphibians and reptiles.