Product Description

A brand-new edition of this popular field guide, Reptiles and Amphibians describes and illustrates every species found in Britain and Europe. This book contains descriptions of every species of salamander, newt, frog, tree frog, toad, tortoise, turtle, terrapin, gecko, agama, lizard, chameleon, slow worm, skink, amphisbaenian and snake found in mainland Europe. Every species and distinct subspecies is described in detail, with notes on its range, size, colour and markings, diagnostic characters, habitat, behaviour and, in the case of venomous snakes, the type and virulence of its poison. The final part of the book deals with the identification of the eggs and tadpoles of frogs, toads, newts and salamanders. There are also introductions to each group of animals, with helpful keys to aid identification where necessary, an introduction to the biology of reptiles and amphibians and how best to study this fascinating part of our fauna. The book is also beautifully illustrated with 49 colour plates and distribution maps for each species.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75889 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

Review
'it is undoubtedly the best guide available on the market' The London Naturalist

Customer Reviews

COLLIN�S REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS, BRITAIN & EUROPE
We have five copies of the first edition of Collins field guide "Reptiles & Amphibians" in our laboratory, which we use almost daily. For last 6 months I have been waiting for my very own copy of the second edition, but every time I tried to order, I received the message "not yet published". Once I finally received my own copy, I was not disappointed.

This long-awaited second edition includes a more comprehensive and easier to use identification key with many more species and subspecies, including those which have been introduced to Europe (i.e. the red eared Terrapin Trachemys scripta which was previously found only in the Americas). The addition of 66 new distribution maps is also a valuable tool in determination. More plates have been added (i.e. sea turtles, skinks, Canary Island lizards, lacertas - new plate with 5 new species described). New species of snake have been added and described (i.e. 2 new species from the Colubridae family and 1 new viper).

The species are listed and described according the newest systematic classifications, thanks to genetic research since the first edition, aiding both the professional biologist and amateur nature lover in making a concise and correct identification in the field.

"Reptiles & Amphibians" has completed my Collins issue library of other valuable field guides, such as Collin's Bird and Mammals, Collin's Fishes, etc...

Superb
This book is quite simply the best field guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the region. This revised edition now has all the plates grouped together for ease of reference and also includes many new species not previously covered.
If you only buy one field guide then buy this one.

Probably the best guide on the market
This guide has helped me to identify some of the species I have photographed on my travels and it's probably the only best guide available on the market at the moment.
However, I only give 3 stars to this book as I find that having to look at the plates which refer you to a page number for the full text description which sends you to a map number at the end of the book for distribution, really annoying, frustrating and time wasting. I have at home a new publication on dragonflies of Europe where everything (plates/text/distribution map) is on the same page!! Why can't Collins do that?
This publication is certainly very useful for the identification of species in general but contains some errors on the distribution of some species (maybe in need to be updated). For example, I have found some Common Tree Frogs in the Camargue (South of France) where the book shows that they are inexistant in the area.
Apart from that, the keys for identification are very good, the plates are excellent and the text description is full of useful information (habitat, detailed description including colour, length etc., similar species...). This is a book for any enthusiastic herpetologists.