Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean

About this book

This book is intended primarily as a field guide to the one hundred or so species of reptiles and amphibians that occur on the islands of the Eastern Caribbean, from Anguilla and Sombrero in the north to Grenada in the south.

It is hoped that Reptiles & Amphibians of the Eastern Caribbean will provide an introduction to the biology of these animals for the non-specialist. This book will also be of interest to both amateur and professional herpetologists as it provides a synthesis of the latest scientific findings, including over a decade of search into the evolutionary ecology of reptiles in these islands by the authors themselves.

The herpetofauna of Dominica, as an example of a virtually intact community, is described in detail. A series of island profiles follows in which the specific features and species of each island are portrayed and illustrated by many colour photographs. A chapter on conservation emphasises the specific threats to species and habitats.

A glossary explains any technical terms and a checklist of species is included for easy reference.

Contents

Introduction
- the islands of the Eastern Caribbean
- biology of reptiles and amphibians
- a note on taxonomy
- how to use this book

Major groups and reptiles and amphibians in the Eastern Caribbean
- amphibians
- reptiles

An example of a natural Eastern Caribbean reptile and amphibian community - Dominica
- the Cabrits National Park
- Morne Diablotin and the Syndicate nature trial
- other species

Island profiles
- Sombrero
- Anguilla
- St Martin
- St Barthelemy
- Saba
- St Eustatius
- St Kitts and Nevis
- Barbuda
- Antigua
- Redonda
- Montserrat
- the Guadeloupe Archipelago (including Grande Terre, Basse Terre, Destrade and Petite Terre)
- the Saintes
- Marie Galante
- Dominica
- Martinque
- St Lucia
- Barbados
- St Vincent
- the Grenadines
- Grenada

Conservation
- extinctions
- conservation threats
- habitat loss
- disturbance
- unintentional killing
- intentional killing
- introduced species
- naturual disasters
- conservation measures

Checklist of species by island

Customer Reviews