A Paradise for Reptiles: Lizards, Snakes, and Giant Tortoises of the Galápagos Islands, Volume 1 Tortoises, Geckos, and Snakes

About this book

Reptiles are intrinsic to the mystique of the Galápagos Islands, and A Paradise for Reptiles: Lizards, Snakes, and Giant Tortoises of the Galápagos Islands tells the story of these iconic animals and details the early encounters with each species, including the route by which they were recognised and named. Robert H. Rothman draws from a wide range of scientific literature to present an accessible, comprehensive account of the research on the natural history, behavioural ecology, physiology, genetics, and conservation of each major group. It is richly supplemented with thirty years of photographs taken by the author during annual trips to the Galápagos.

Volume 1: Tortoises, Geckos, and Snakes covers the legendary giant tortoises and the lesser-known geckos and snakes. It also presents an overview of the complex geological history of the Galápagos, which is essential to understanding the course of colonisation and the evolution of reptiles in the archipelago.

Contents

Foreword   ix
Preface   xi

1. THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE OF THESE ISLANDS   1
      1.1 Reptiles and the Discovery of the Galápagos Islands   1
      1.2 Early Encounters with Tortoises   3
      1.3 “Turpining”   5
      1.4 Endangered Reptiles   7
      1.5 Famous Tortoises   7
      1.6 Reptiles and the Origin of the Galápagos Islands   8
      1.7 A Paradise for Reptiles   10
2. A CONGENIAL HABITATION   13
      2.1 Reptiles and the Origin of the Galápagos Islands   13
      2.2 Plate Tectonics and the Formation of the Galápagos Islands   16
      2.3 The Age of the Galápagos Islands   19
      2.4 Galápagos Land Revisited   21
3. GIANT TORTOISES: CHELONOIDIS   27
      3.1 The Last of His Kind   27
      3.2 A Tortoise by Any Other Name   28
      3.3 A Multiplicity of Species   35
            3.3.1 Questions of Provenance   37
            3.3.2 The California Academy of Sciences Expedition and Problematic Species   42
      3.4 Species or Subspecies?   47
      3.5 Domes and Saddles   48
      3.6 Natural History   54
            3.6.1 Daily Routine   54
            3.6.2 Diet   59
            3.6.3 Seed Dispersal and Climate Change   62
            3.6.4 Predators and Parasites   63
      3.7 Reproduction   66
            3.7.1 Mating   66
            3.7.2 Hormonal Cycles   68
            3.7.3 Nesting   71
            3.7.4 Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination   72
            3.7.5 Growth Rates, Age to Sexual Maturity, and Life Span   73
            3.7.6 Reproductive Biology and Mutation Rate   76
      3.8 Evolution and Colonization   77
            3.8.1 Mainland Origins   77
            3.8.2 Genetic Analysis   79
                  3.8.2.1 Early Attempts at Genetic Analysis   79
                  3.8.2.2 Modern Genetic Analysis   81
                  3.8.2.3 Tortoises of Santa Cruz   83
                  3.8.2.4 Tortoises of Volcán Wolf   86
                  3.8.2.5 Tortoises of Volcán Alcedo   87
                  3.8.2.6 Tortoises of Southern Isabela   88
            3.8.3 Phylogeny   91
            3.8.4 Patterns of Colonization   95
            3.8.5 Giant Tortoises and Evolutionary Hot Spots   97
      3.9 The Human Factor   97
            3.9.1 Tortoises as Commodities   97
            3.9.2 Feral Animals   103
            3.9.3 Restoration of Tortoise Populations   104
                  3.9.3.1 The Pinzón Head-Starting Program   105
                  3.9.3.2 The Española Captive Breeding Program   108
                  3.9.3.3 Volcán Wolf and the Recovery of Pinta and Floreana Tortoises   114
                  3.9.3.4 Floreana Tortoises   116
            3.9.4 The Rewilding of the Galápagos   118
            3.9.5 Continuing Threats   120
      Tortoise Update   125
4. GECKOS: PHYLLODACTYLUS   127
      4.1 The Endemic Species   127
      4.2 Evolutionary Relationships   129
      4.3 Natural History   134
      4.4 Introduced Geckos   134
5. GALÁPAGOS RACER SNAKES: PSEUDALSOPHIS   139
      5.1 Recognizing Diversity   139
      5.2 Evolutionary Relationships   146
      5.3 Natural History   149
6. AFTERWORD   153
      6.1 Early Encounters   153
      6.2 Changing Taxonomies   153
      6.3 Life Histories   154
      6.4 Evolution   154
      6.5 Colonization   155
      6.6 Conservation   156
      6.7 Concluding Remarks   157

References   159
Index   179

Customer Reviews

Biography

Robert H. Rothman, PhD, is Professor Emeritus, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. He initiated, taught, and led thirty-two annual trips to the Galapagos Islands for science and nonscience RIT students.