Amphibians & Reptiles of North-West Europe : Their Natural History, Ecology and Conservation

Written without obscure jargon, in a way any lay reader should be able to understand, this book is still sufficiently detailed to make it useful to undergraduates and research students.

This book provides a brief description of the ecology and natural history of sixteen amphibians, eight snakes and lizards and the Chelonia species found in the temperate climatic region of Europe (North-west Europe). The book commences with an introduction to the biology of amphibians and reptiles and describes the differences between the main groups. The main ecological adaptations are discussed and there is particular mention that it is erroneous to refer to amphibians and reptiles as cold blooded. There is also the suggestion that the colour of an amphibian or reptile may not necessarily mean anything in terms of the animal''s thermal properties. For each species there is a brief account of the following: the etymology or origin of the name of the species, reference to early accounts of the species, taxonomy, protection, general description, distribution and habitat, seasonal movements and behaviour, vagility and population ecology, feeding ecology, thermal ecology, reproduction, growth and development, ge