The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna Between Two Continents, Between Two SeasWorld renowned for its biological diversity and model conservation system, Costa Rica is home to a wide variety of amphibians and reptiles, from the golden toad to the scorpion lizard and the black-headed bushmaster. Jay M. Savage has studied these fascinating creatures for more than forty years, and in The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica he provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date treatment of their biology and evolution ever produced. Savage begins with detailed discussions of the natural and cultural history of Costa Rica, setting the stage for a detailed treatment of each of the 396 species of amphibians and reptiles that may be found there. Each species account synthesizes and analyzes everything that is known about the animal's anatomy, behavior, geographic distribution, systematics, and evolutionary history and provides keys for identifying amphibians and reptiles in the field. In addition to distribution maps and systematic and morphological illustrations, the book includes color photographs of almost every known species, many taken by the distinguished nature photographers Michael and Patricia Fogden. Because Costa Rica has played, and continues to play, a pivotal role in the study of tropical biology as well as in the development of ecotourism and ecoprospecting, and because more than half of the amphibians and reptiles in Costa Rica are also found elsewhere in Central America, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica will be an essential book for a wide audience of nature lovers, naturalists, ecotourists, field biologists, conservationists, and government planners. |
Contents
Discovering a Tropical Herpetofauna | 3 |
LIVING AMPHIBIANS | 93 |
Reptiles Class Reptilia | 409 |
Ecological Distribution of the Herpetofauna | 783 |
Historical Units Faunal Areas | 794 |
Development of the Herpetofauna | 815 |
Addendum | 839 |
Literature Cited | 859 |
| 911 | |
| 927 | |
Other editions - View all
The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna between Two ... Jay M. Savage No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
50 100 KILOMETERS adult females adult males amphibians anurans areas BIOLOGY blotches body Bolitoglossa Bufo caudal Central Colombia Cordillera Cordillera de Talamanca Costa Rica crest dark brown denticles dewlap DIAGNOSTICS diameter digits distinct Distribution dorsal scales dorsolateral dorsum Duellman eggs Eleutherodactylus elongate enlarged finger disks fins flanks fourth toe frogs genera genus gray green groin HABITAT head Hyla juveniles karyotype keeled KILOMETERS 1500m CONTOUR larvae lateral light stripe lizards Lower Montane Lowland margin metatarsal middorsal moderate moderate-sized montane Norops nuptial pads Oedipina oral disk Pacific paired palmar tubercle Panama papillae parotoid glands Plate posterior thigh surface premontane Puntarenas reptiles rounded rows salamanders SIMILAR SPECIES slope smooth snakes snout southwestern specimens standard length subarticular tubercles supralabials tadpoles tail Talamanca tarsal fold teeth toe webbing total length transverse tubercles tympanum upper surface usually venter vocal sac vocal slits webbing formula Wet Forest yellow