The Natural History of the Snakes and Lizards of Iowa (Bur Oak Guide)

This book is an in-depth look at the natural history of each snake and lizard species/subspecies found in Iowa. Each of the thirty-three species accounts includes a sampling of the common names the species has been known by in the past, the first specimens collected in the state, and a brief history of the early Iowa literature related to the species, along with a complete description and a discussion of similar species, distribution in the state, habitat, behavior, threats, foods and feeding, and reproduction. While readers will be able to identify Iowa’s snakes and lizards through its species accounts, identification keys, and beautiful photographs and illustrations, this book is intended to be more than a field guide. What makes it truly unique is the comparison of historic data collected by Iowa herpetologists in the 1930s and 1940s with data collected by the author, along with James L. Christiansen and others, since 1960. Custom maps show the reader how species’ distributions have changed over time. Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Biogeography of the Snakes and Lizards of Iowa, Neil P. Bernstein Identifying Iowa’s Lizards and Snakes Key to Iowa Lizards Key to Iowa Snakes Part One. Lizards Family Anguidae: Glass Lizards and Their Relatives Western Slender Glass Lizard Family Scincidae: Skinks Common Five-Lined Skink Great Plains Skink Northern Prairie Skink Family Teiidae: Racerunners and Whiptails Prairie Racerunner Part Two. Snakes Family Colubridae: Colubrids (Nonvenomous) Western Wormsnake North American Racer Prairie Ring-Necked Snake Plains Hog-Nosed Snake Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake Prairie Kingsnake Speckled Kingsnake Eastern Milksnake Plain-Bellied Watersnake Diamond-Backed Watersnake Northern Watersnake Smooth Greensnake Western Ratsnake Western Foxsnake Bullsnake Graham’s Crayfish Snake Dekay’s Brownsnake Red-Bellied Snake Orange-Striped Ribbonsnake Plains Gartersnake Common Gartersnake Lined Snake Western Smooth Earthsnake Family Viperidae: Vipers and Pit Vipers (Venomous) Eastern Copperhead Timber Rattlesnake Prairie Rattlesnake Eastern Massasauga Prairie Massasauga Quick Reference Guide to Snakes Glossary References Life Lists Index of Scientific and Common Names "My major goal in this book is to provide information on the natural history of the snakes and lizards of Iowa that will be useful to professional and amateur herpetologists, students, wildlife biologists, and all general readers interested in these fascinating creatures. I have combined general information with technical details about the morphology, distribution, ecology, behavior, and reproduction of each species and subspecies of snake and lizard found in Iowa"-- Provided by publisher