دوزیستان و خزندگان کارائیب [منبع الکترونیکی]

Amphibians and reptiles are the most numerous, diverse, and frequently encountered animals on the Caribbean islands. This book provides a variety of perspectives on this amazing group of organisms. Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles, compiled by an international team of zoologists, takes a fresh and detailed look at the complex biological puzzle of the Caribbean. The first true overview of the islands, it includes a historical examination of the people who have studied the Caribbean amphibians and reptiles. The book reviews the ecology, evolutionary history, and biogeographic explanations for the origins and diversity of the region's fauna with island-by-island coverage. It puts the Caribbean in perspective by comparing the islands to Central America and its amphibian reptile diversity. Additionally, the book includes figures, tables, and color plates which bring to life some of the region's most spectacular creatures. Key Features* Presents the first complete review of amphibians and reptiles in the Caribbean* Includes color plates and island maps* Contributors are recognized authorities in the field Front Cover......Page 1 Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Contributors......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Legends to Color Plates......Page 22 Introduction: Where We Are......Page 32 Periods in the History of Knowledge of the West Indian Herpetofauna......Page 37 The Seventh Period?......Page 61 History......Page 62 The Species......Page 66 Introduction......Page 94 Location-Topography-Geology......Page 98 Rivers......Page 100 Climate and Vegetation......Page 102 Historical Summary......Page 104 Problems......Page 120 Geography and Physiography......Page 124 Vegetation......Page 129 Diversity and Endemism......Page 133 Historical Perspectives......Page 170 Fossil Record......Page 194 Current Status of the Herpetofauna......Page 195 Introduction: The Region......Page 200 The Puerto Rican Herpetofauna within the Greater Antillean Assemblages......Page 202 Distribution within Puerto Rico......Page 203 The Incursive and Anthropochore Herpetofauna......Page 209 Inroduction......Page 212 Diversity and Taxonomic History......Page 218 Biogeography......Page 250 Conservation......Page 251 Introduction......Page 254 History......Page 255 Some Aspects of the Ecology of the West Indian Herpetofauna......Page 262 Summary......Page 294 Future Emphasis......Page 295 Introduction......Page 300 Anura......Page 301 Sauria......Page 309 Serpentes......Page 337 Testudines......Page 357 Crocodylia......Page 359 Conclusions......Page 360 Appendix......Page 362 Introduction......Page 366 Historical Biogeography......Page 367 Ecological Biogeography......Page 375 Coda......Page 387 Introduction......Page 388 Origins of the Herpetofaunas......Page 389 Diversity of the Herpetofaunas......Page 395 Discussion......Page 400 References......Page 402 Systematic Index......Page 506 Color Plates Section......Page 527 Amphibians and reptiles are the most numerous, diverse, and frequently encountered animals on the Caribbean islands. This book provides a variety of perspectives on this amazing group of organisms. Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles, compiled by an international team of zoologists, takes a fresh and detailed look at the complex biological puzzle of the Caribbean. The first true overview of the islands, it includes a historical examination of the people who have studied the Caribbean amphibians and reptiles. The book reviews the ecology, evolutionary history, and biogeographic explanations for the origins and diversity of the region's fauna with island-by-island coverage. It puts the Caribbean in perspective by comparing the islands to Central America and its amphibian reptile diversity. Additionally, the book includes figures, tables, and color plates which bring to life some of the region's most spectacular creatures.

Key Features
* Presents the first complete review of amphibians and reptiles in the Caribbean
* Includes color plates and island maps
* Contributors are recognized authorities in the field Amphibians and reptiles are the most numerous, diverse, and frequently encountered animals on the Caribbean islands. This book provides a variety of perspectives on this amazing group of organisms. Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles, compiled by an international team of zoologists, takes a fresh and detailed look at the complex biological puzzle of the Caribbean. The first true overview of the islands, it includes a historical examination of the people who have studied the Caribbean amphibians and reptiles. The book reviews the ecology, evolutionary history, and biogeographic explanations for the origins and diversity of the region's fauna with island-by-island coverage. It puts the Caribbean in perspective by comparing the islands to Central America and its amphibian and reptile diversity. Additionally, the book includes figures, tables, and color plates which bring to life some of the region's most spectacular creatures. "The most numerous, diverse, and frequently encountered animals on Caribbean islands are amphibians and reptiles. Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles takes a detailed look at this amazing assemblage of organisms. With its island-by-island coverage of the herpetofauna, this volume is the first overview of the fascinating region and also includes an historical examination of the people who have studied Caribbean amphibians and reptiles."--Jacket