The amphibians and reptiles of the Yucatán Peninsula /

The Yucatan Peninsula includes Mexico (northern Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo), northern Guatemala, and Belize. Lee's main goal is to provide an identification guide to the amphibians and reptiles of the above described region. It is, however, much more than that. Major subdivisions include an introduction, the environment, habitats, composition of the herpetofauna, history of the herpetology in the region, species accounts, and ethnoherpetology. There are a detailed gazetteer, a glossary, literature cited, and 24 colored plates of habitat and 186 of most of the species discussed. Each species account includes a description, similar species, distribution (including a map), natural history, subspecies (where pertinent), comments, and locality records. Well written and thorough; strongly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. K. L. Williams Northwestern State University

Lee (biology, Univ. of Miami, Coral Gables) here offers a comprehensive survey of 181 species of reptiles and amphibians inhabiting the Yucatan peninsula. For each, he gives a detailed morphological description, characteristics that differentiate them from similar species, and range maps of their distribution within the Yucatan. Brief accounts of ecological relationships and natural history are also included, and quality color photos show the animals and their habitat. A competent taxonomic key, in both English and Spanish, aids in the identification of unknown species collected within this geographic region. Organized primarily for reference use, the information‘previously available only in journals‘is precise and accurate. A fascinating concluding chapter on the role of amphibians and reptiles in regional cultures is the only departure from descriptive biology. Although the material is accessible to the lay reader, the narrow topic will restrict the book's appeal to specialists. Recommended for academic collections.‘Frank Reiser, Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.