Dr. Bechtel's book is the first published on the subject of reptile and amphibian variations that occur naturally or through selective breeding. The text contains enough basic biology to help the reader understand the discussions of the various mutations.
These animals with conspicuously altered colors and patterns are often quite beautiful. The rarer and more bizarre anomalies and mutations are described in this fascinating book which opens a window on this developing and complex field of inquiry.
Profusely illustrated, Reptile and Amphibian Variants covers an arcane subject from the author's personal perspective.
- Reptiles and Amphibians
- Biology of the Skin
- Genetics
- Chromatophore Biology
- Participation of Chromatophores in Colour Patterns
- Function of Coloration and Pattern
- Albinism
- Albinism and Hypomelanism in Reptiles and Amphibians
- Axanthism
- Leucism, Piebaldism and Melanism
- Anomalous Patterns
- Scalelessness, Bicephaly and Hybrids
- Investigative Breeding and Artificial Selection