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This is a book for all readers who want to learn about amphibians, the animal group that includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. It draws on many years of classroom teaching, laboratory experience, and field observation by the authors. Robert Stebbins and Nathan Cohen lead readers on a fascinating odyssey as they explore some of nature's most interesting creatures, interspersing their own observations throughout the book. A Natural History of Amphibians can serve as a textbook for students and independent learners, as an overview of the field for professional scientists and land managers, and as an engaging introduction for general readers.


The class Amphibia contains more than 4,500 known living species. New species are being discovered so rapidly that the number may grow to more than 5,000 during our lifetimes. However, their numbers are being rapidly decimated around the globe, largely due to the encroachment of humans on amphibian habitats and from growing human-caused environmental pollution, discussed at length in the final chapter. The authors focus our attention on the "natural history" of amphibians worldwide and emphasize their interactions with their environments over time: where they live; how they reproduce; how they have been affected by evolutionary processes; what factors will determine their destinies over time. Through the experienced eyes of the authors, who are skilled observers, we come to see and understand the place of amphibians in the natural world around us.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• 1 Introduction(p. 3)
• 2 Skin(p. 10)
• 3 Breathing(p. 17)
• 4 Limbs and Locomotion(p. 26)
• 5 Tail(p. 33)
• 6 Nose and Chemoreception(p. 37)
• 7 Eyes and Vision(p. 42)
• 8 Food Habits(p. 54)
• 9 Ears and Hearing(p. 67)
• 10 Voice(p. 76)
• 11 Temperature Characteristics(p. 89)
• 12 Body Water Regulation(p. 102)
• 13 Protection against Predators(p. 110)
• 14 Home Range and Movements(p. 121)
• 15 Territorial Behavior and Fighting(p. 126)
• 16 Homing and Migration(p. 131)
• 17 Reproduction(p. 140)
• 18 Parental Care(p. 195)
• 19 Contributions of Amphibians to Human Welfare(p. 205)
• 20 Declining Amphibians(p. 210)
• Literature Cited(p. 253)
• Index(p. 301)

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CHOICE Review

Distinguished biologists Stebbins and Cohen present a wealth of detail about the general biology and natural history of frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Topics follow the format of amphibian lectures given over the years by Stebbins. The 20 chapters introduce and define the Amphibia and relate aspects of amphibian anatomy plus associated functions such as breathing, locomotion, chemoreception, food habits, voice, and hearing; they also discuss temperature and body-water regulation; predation and home range movements; territorial behavior, homing, and migration; reproductive patterns and parental care; and contributions to human welfare. Declining amphibian populations is the focus of the closing chapter. The narrative is entertaining, informative, and written in a vernacular to appeal to all readers. Extensive bibliography; superb black-and-white drawings; poor quality monochrome photographs. Recommended. General; undergraduate through faculty. E. D. Keiser University of Mississippi

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Robert C. Stebbins is Emeritus Professor of Zoology and Emeritus Curator in Herpetology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of numerous books, including A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians . Nathan W. Cohen is Emeritus Director of Curriculum Development in Science, University of California Extension, Berkeley.