Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in NatureThis is a book about some of nature's most alluring and forbidding creatures, written by a man with an abiding passion for snakes, as well as for science, the fate of the planet, and the wonder of life. Harry Greene presents every facet of the natural history of snakes--their diversity, evolution, and conservation--and at the same time makes a personal statement of why these animals are so compelling. This book provides an up-to-date summary of the biology of snakes on a global basis. Eight chapters are devoted to general biology topics, including anatomy, feeding, venoms, predation and defense, social behavior, reproduction, evolution, and conservation; eight chapters survey the major snake groups, including blindsnakes, boas, colubrids, stiletto snakes, cobras, sea snakes, and vipers. Details of particular interest, such as coral snake mimicry and the evolution of the0 rattle, are highlighted as special topics. Chapter introductory essays are filled with anecdotes that will tempt nonspecialists to read on, while the book's wealth of comprehensive information will gratify herpeto-culturalists and professional biologists. Greene's writing is clear, engaging, and full of appreciation for his subject. Michael and Patricia Fogden are known internationally for their outstanding work, and their stunning color photographs of snakes in their natural habitats are a brilliant complement to Greene's text. Here is a scientific book that provides accurate information in an accessible way to general readers, strongly advocates for a persecuted group of animals, encourages conservation--not just of snakes but of ecosystems--and credits science for enriching our lives. In helping readers explore the role of snakes in human experience, Greene and the Fogdens show how science and art can be mutual pathways to understanding. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Part One LIFESTYLES | 8 |
Classification and General Biology II | 11 |
Behavioral Complexity in Snakes | 30 |
Locomotion and Habitats | 35 |
Other Elongate Vertebrates | 48 |
Diet and Feeding | 51 |
Functional Morphology and the African Eggeating Snakes Dasypeltis | 56 |
Old World Colubrids | 173 |
A Disastrous Vagabond | 179 |
New World Colubrids | 191 |
Stiletto Snakes and Other African Enigmas | 207 |
Cobras Coralsnakes and Their Relatives | 215 |
The Coralsnake Mimicry Problem | 226 |
Seakraits and Seasnakes | 231 |
Vipers Adders and Pitvipers | 245 |
Venomous Snakes and Snakebite | 75 |
Deadly Colubrids and Famous Herpetologists | 82 |
Predators and Defense | 97 |
Morphological Specializations for Defense in Cobras | 108 |
Behavior Reproduction and Population Biology | 117 |
Radiotelemetry and the Annual Cycle of Blacktailed Rattlesnakes | 134 |
Part Two DIVERSITY | 140 |
Blindsnakes | 143 |
Pipesnakes Boas and Other Basal Groups | 155 |
Relict Serpents Continental Drift and Dispersal | 158 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adder Bitis adult African Agkistrodon arboreal Asian Atractaspis basal alethinophidians behavior biology birds bites blindsnakes boas body Bothriechis schlegelii Bothrops Bothrops asper Brown burrowing Bushmasters cobras coil color patterns colubrids common constrictor Coralsnakes Micrurus Costa Rica crawl creatures defensive diet dorsal dwarf boas ecological eggs elapids elongate evolution fangs feeding female Filesnakes forest frogs Gartersnakes Thamnophis genera glands Green groups habitats head hog-nosed snakes jaws juvenile Kingsnakes Lachesis muta Leptotyphlops limbless lineages lizards male Mambas mammals marine elapids Milksnakes Naja natricines neotropical nest North American oviparous percent perhaps pipesnakes Pituophis pitvipers populations predators prey pythons Ratsnakes Rattlesnakes Crotalus relatives reptiles rodents rostral scale scales seakraits Laticauda serpents skin skinks slender snout southern species squamates sunbeam snakes swallow tail taxa teeth Terciopelos terrestrial Timber Rattlesnakes tree tropical typically venomous snakes ventral vertebrates vinesnakes Vipera berus viperids vipers viridis viviparous Watersnakes whereas World coralsnakes Yellow-bellied Seasnakes