View Full Version : Good Field Guide
daver676
04-06-04, 11:57 AM
Can someone recommend an easy to use field guide for identifying reptiles in he wild? Please keep in mind my inexperience in identifying wild specimens. :o
Thanks. :)
Scotty Allen
04-06-04, 12:14 PM
You won't beat "A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America. Fourth Edition. by: Roger Conant; Joseph T. Collins; Tom R. Johnson (Illustrator); Isabelle Hunt Conant (Illustrator); Roger Tory Peterson (Series edited by)
Also one for Western North America.
scalawag
04-06-04, 09:05 PM
Yeah, thats a great book, The Peterson Field Guide Series, I was searching yesterday for one. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0395904528/qid=1081301840/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-6402866-7240020?v=glance&s=books
shaggybill
04-07-04, 10:35 PM
I own Petersons and it is a good one. However, I do have one problem with it. It doesnt have pictures of each subspecies, only distribution maps and a description. For instance, in the genera Thamnophis, it has descriptions and maps for 18 subspecies, yet only has 3 pictures to go along with them. It does have drawn illustrations in the front of the book for most of the subspecies, but not real pictures, which I prefer. As for maps and descriptions, no, it cannot be beat.
For field ID, I would have to recommend The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Not perfect by any means, but they do have pictures of each subspecies as well as a short description and distribution map.
Wu-Gwei
04-18-04, 10:57 AM
Is the Peterson's Field guide better than, The ROM Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Ontario by Ross MacCulloch? I am mainly herping in Ontario, so would the ROM Field Guide be easier with Ontario specific species. I have heard rave reviews about the Peterson Guide from all the Americans. Just wondered what some Ontarians thought about it. I don't know much about snakes, but would like to learn some more. If there are any places cheaper than Chapters online? I can get 20% off from Chapters. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
Cheers,
JJ;)
Babysnake
04-18-04, 03:30 PM
I own the Lone Pine Reptiles of the Northwest by Alan St. John. It actually covers Northwestern US and Western Canada including a small portion of Alberta. It might help, but they also might have a similar guide that covers your area more thoroughly. The one I have has excellent photos, identification guides, field notes and range maps.
Unfortunately, I no longer live in the Northwest, so it is little use to me now.
The publisher has a web site: www.lonepinepublishing.com
Good luck.
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