Nature Guide: Snakes and Other Reptiles and Amphibians

354 Pages·2014·49.23 MB·English

by  DK

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S m i t h s o n i a n
Chris Mattison
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LoNDoN, NEw YoRK, MELbouRNE,
MuNIch, AND DELhI
DoRLING KINDERSLEY
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DK INDIA
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coNSuLTANT
Jeremy F. Jacobs, Collections Manager, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles,
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
First American Edition, 2014
Published in the United States by
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CONTENTS
IntroductIon Turtles and tortoises 200
What are reptiles and amphibians? 8 Crocodilians 223
Habitat and distribution 10 Tuataras 223
Feeding 12
AmbhIbIAns
Defense 14
Salamanders 234
Reproduction 16
Caecilians 234
Conservation 18
Frogs and toads 252
reptIles
Snakes 22 Glossary 338
Lizards 124 Index 342
Worm lizards 125 Acknowledgments 351
how the specIes profIles work
key
e
Distribution
profile family f
order common name information name Habitat
b
Length
Reproduction
214 turtles | EmydidaE turtles | TEsTUdinidaE 215
efbPr ECwePsSoth.lo.si r dNfenaeeelndaoiwl lldsmr4yht, e 3 Nhsie⁄d4n, r–.r At ea1aSrmno2ion ddiuean utrlg ahic(ce1k eaA2sed ,–mds a3ietn0crd chi cm eas); , k E5DLeg–iua2grs2-nlta aCylionngcern mcoabarsrackpuinarcgees w obitneh ct oahgmee e itidtitsnhois fsee fiubt cxrageautnhradlettu i lacmyftota iefrreure dlpalyc rtps oeottaogdratcnuaroletigiizoksharee,sb’ s pmlt eoaca atwbktreraiinetrphnaga k, ci tie n t o. efb P r SDSEoh.gr yMfeg -lfilalo laudryepaein gstgatos 1c6a irn (40 cm) k 3DC–riui1tr2incpfeaaraaolllclmyeh E l itsnnhmeedso ac orneatnghdte iesarcrte euod tfe • NoAVrecu ntemiogvbmegesor uosf broods
yellow stripes pahllieme aybdes l alaonrwde k IUCN Red List status
Yahbaallalesosav olnctleh ogkh e y wats ehnvp leelamoo mntwpasere irocsa kshkmloiu napingnnglggaedse snt stlhtert oeysgn, es et.lslhdo wegwseit essh .t t rsTuiophrtmeelesyes pale yellow plastron scientific name of
similar sPecies Trachemys scripta similar sPecies Astrochelys radiata
very smooth carapace Yellow-bellied slider slightly conical scutes radiated tortoise the main species
this widespread turtle occurs in many different the radiated tortoise is one of the most attractive
guises, some of which are recognized as subspecies. species in the world. The heavily constructed high-domed
aside from being smaller, male yellow-bellied sliders are shell is marked with striking pale lines that radiate from
Ppsaoraiecmi tnbaetrw)ei gUdhhs ettueruerar lioltnyln e jh u iat(vsCse hsnrheriledyel sslm,e wamrhkyicisnh g s aoctohllfnas e hwot seh sdired .ad ierOru ksfrfe ritonoerfg nn in ht c s eofceeruo eehrlnotte s raabh rtdaihep s wa mktnohin u ittlghciec,he kst lhlfweoee inmtmshgeaeme l trefui.en sTrm gtahl aenbelsdaye c ’autskhr sceweeh as citnorhlda -aecw insansedl l f e r do nt i(sbnGloidgeldhioaetclnryh m ssemtalaorakrnlrilneeeg rde sa l tenodgr athonaisss) e tstsahemkeaTea sch loulei,nsp nw , s ttfoipeet herme c oimgaifelh eoests ramf eelca oehryond dtutshha neosrdik nrte o essd gcuh guscashtctec euinh.ll le .ash nT toth thtl eevhas eehn,g a aeettnhnctadohdt ls tiionohefgne ost ,e hf ia ngeargc edwls uuv ecdletatirs nny.g
because of their habit of sliding into the water the pads of the introduced prickly pear, Opuntia, and can
at the slightest disturbance. live for well over 100 years. it has, however, been hunted
Breeding usually takes by people for food, and its present range is only a small
place in spring and summer. portion of what it used to be. more recently, it has also
The time of nesting, however, been collected for the pet trade, despite being protected.
depends on the climate at Breeding programs in madagascar and in other countries
any given locality—the eggs are helping to increase numbers, but releasing them into
omwyefh aateyhrr eofeu avnresot rhtrwhetherin eyst rohenuar p ttichnoh. pt htuhelae tn sioeansmts,e r(TirsTehe .diisdds .s e -detenrilsatiepitrfiiegene acddbnt e ibtvshuye)i nr astd ulp eibrt sos pmeeyicneiese.nst tish ein w pilladc we.ill not be effective until adequate protection
subspecies or variation similar species
of main species
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introduction
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8 inTroduCTion
what are reptiles
and amphibians?
Although reptiles and amphibians belong to two distinct
taxonomic groups, they are traditionally studied together:
they tend to be found in the same places, and methods for
finding and collecting them are often similar.
ThermoregulATion
Reptiles and amphibians depend
on their surroundings for heat, and
thermoregulation is key to understanding
many aspects of their lives. They cannot,
for example, feed, escape predators,
or reproduce unless their body is at
a suitable temperature.
Many reptiles shuttle from warm
to cool places to maintain an even
temperature in the range of 86–104° F
(30–40° C); amphibians prefer cooler
conditions and rarely bask. Both groups
avoid extremes of temperature by
hibernating during extended periods
of cold or by estivating to avoid Basking
lethally hot temperatures. Aquatic Many reptiles, such as this young Australian
water dragon, bask in the sun to regulate their
and burrowing species adapt to the
body temperature. When warm, they retreat to
ambient temperature. the shade to stop themselves from overheating.
ChArACTerisTiCs of repTiles openings. Snakes and lizards use their
Reptiles are tailed, scaly vertebrates with tongue to pick up scent molecules from
two, four, or no limbs. The scales may be their surroundings and transfer them
smooth, keeled, or granular, and may to the Jacobson’s organ in the roof of
overlap or be arranged next to each their mouth. Some snakes also have
other. Turtles have a bony shell covered heat-detecting pits. As a group, reptiles
with modified scales, or scutes. All may be terrestrial, aquatic, arboreal,
reptiles have ears but only some lizards burrowing, or marine, and are globally
and crocodilians have visible external ear distributed, aside from the poles.
Typical snake
The Santa Cruz garter snake
is a terrestrial species that is
equally at home in the water.
It is an alert diurnal hunter.
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