Encyclopedia of Reptiles & Amphibians*

Some 360 million years ago the ancestors of today's reptiles and amphibians emerged from the sea to take on the challenge of land.

This successful venture climaxed in a spectacular 140-million-year domination of the Earth by the dinosaurs. Today there are more than 11,000 species of reptiles and amphibians living in all parts of the world.

Their behavior and physiology are as complex as those of birds and mammals, and they are equally well-adapted to the astonishingly varied environments they inhabit. Only through a greater understanding of the fragile balance that exists between the species and their habitats will it be possible for us to ensure their survival.

This Second Edition of Reptiles and Amphibians is a magnificently illustrated book, with highly comprehensive and authoritative text, written by the world's leading herpetologists. The book has more than 200 superb color photographs and 100 original paintings, maps, and diagrams. It is an up-to-date and definitive volume that chronicles the life-histories of some of nature's most secretive yet remarkable creatures.