A truly comprehensive coverage of the entire group of reptiles and amphibians - the turtles, lizards, snakes, salamanders, frogs and their allies - that any hobbyist or weekend naturalist can turn to for answers to her or his questions about both common herps and the rarely seen species. The author uses an interesting narrative style to describe the lives and characters of hundreds of species from North America and around the world. Although Breen, a herpetologist of long standing, emphasizes the more familiar species likely to be found in pet shops or collected by the average enthusiast, many obscure and rare groups are also discussed in detail.
The almost 600 photos provide a gallery such as is seldom seen in a book for the average naturalist, picturing everything from common snakes found in your back yard to seldom seen Australian lizards and Africal frogs.
Breen doesn't just tell you about reptiles and amphibians, he also tells you how to keep them successfully in captivity and get the most out of observing them in nature. Housing, maintenance, feeding and foods are discussed in detail, and there are also hints on purchasing your pet or collecting it.
