The book of snakes : a life-size guide to six hundred species from around the world

For millennia, humans have regarded snakes with an exceptional combination of fascination and revulsion. Some people recoil in fear at the very suggestion of these creatures, while others happily keep them as pets__.__ Snakes can convey both beauty and menace in a single tongue flick and so these creatures have held a special place in our cultures. Yet, for as many meanings that we attribute to snakes—from fertility and birth to sin and death—the real-life species represent an even wider array of wonders. __The Book of Snakes__ presents 600 species of snakes from around the world, covering nearly one in six of all snake species. It will bring greater understanding of a group of reptiles that have existed for more than 160 million years, and that now inhabit every continent except Antarctica, as well as two of the great oceans. This volume pairs spectacular photos with easy-to-digest text. It is the first book on these creatures that combines a broad, worldwide sample with full-color, life-size accounts. Entries include close-ups of the snake’s head and a section of the snake at actual size. The detailed images allow readers to examine the intricate scale patterns and rainbow of colors as well as special features like a cobra’s hood or a rattlesnake’s rattle. The text is written for laypeople and includes a glossary of frequently used terms. Herpetologists and herpetoculturists alike will delight in this collection, and even those with a more cautious stance on snakes will find themselves drawn in by the wild diversity of the suborder Serpentes. “A rich introduction to the snake world” filled with spectacular color photos and fascinating facts about six hundred different species ( The Wall Street Journal ). For millennia, humans have regarded snakes with an exceptional combination of fascination and revulsion. Some people recoil in fear at the very suggestion of these creatures, while others happily keep them as pets. Snakes can convey both beauty and menace in a single tongue flick and have held a special place in our cultures. Yet, for as many meanings that we attribute to snakes—from fertility and birth to sin and death—the real-life species represent an even wider array of wonders. The Book of Snakes presents 600 species from around the world, representing about one-sixth of all snake species. It brings greater understanding of a group of reptiles that have existed for over 160 million years, and that now inhabit every continent except Antarctica, as well as two of the great oceans. This first-of-its-kind volume pairs spectacular photos with easy-to-digest text. Entries include close-ups of the snake’s head and a section of the snake at actual size. The detailed images allow readers to examine the intricate scale patterns and rainbow of colors, as well as special features like a cobra’s hood or a rattlesnake’s rattle. The text is written for laypeople and includes a glossary of frequently used terms. Herpetologists and herpetoculturists alike will delight in this collection—and even those with a more cautious stance on snakes will find themselves drawn in by the wild diversity of the suborder Serpentes. “A masterpiece.” — Ichthyology & Herpetology There are over 3,700 species of snake found on every continent except for Antarctica, ranging in size from Barbados' tiny threadsnake to Southeast Asia's massive reticulated python. More than any other creature snakes are surrounded by dark, compelling myths and legend, unsurprising since many constrict their prey to death, or kill with a venomous bite, using a diverse armory of venoms that affect the blood, tissues, organs, and respiration. However, it is especially true of snakes that the closer you observe them, the more exquisite they are in their intricate geometry of pattern, the fine texture of the overlapping scales, and the intricacies of their multifarious lifestyles. The Book of Snakes profiles 600 significant species from all 32 families—one in six of all known species—to create a beautiful collector's piece that is both a significant resource for enthusiasts and scholars, and the most visually stimulating guide on the market. Introduction -- Evolution & Diversity Of Snakes -- What Is A Snake? -- Prey & Hunting -- Enemies & Defense -- Reproductive Strategies -- Snakes & Humankind -- The Snakes. Scolecophidia -- Alethinophidia : Amerophidia -- Alethinophidia : Afrophidia : Henophidia -- Alethinophidia : Afrophidia : Caenophidia -- Glossary -- Resources -- Indexes -- Acknowledgments. Mark O'shea. Simultaneously Published: London : Ivy Press. This Book Was Conceived And Designed By Ivy Press, An Imprint Of The Quarto Group--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 648-649) And Indexes.