Revised second edition. Some 360 million years ago the ancestors of today’s reptiles and amphibians emerged from the sea to take on the challenge of land. This successful venture climaxed in a spectacular 140-million-year domination of the Earth by the dinosaurs. Today there are more than 11,000 species of reptiles and amphibians living in all parts of the world. Their behavior and physiology are as complex as those of birds and mammals, and they are equally well-adapted to the astonishingly varied environments they inhabit. Only through a greater understanding of the fragile balance that exists between the species and their habitats will it be possible for us to ensure their survival. Written by an internationally renowned team of herpetologists, this book is an up-to-date and definitive volume that chronicles the life- histories of some of nature’s most secretive yet remarkable creatures. A comprehensive and readable text.Nature / Animals / Reptiles & Amphibians 240 p. : col. ill., maps ; 32 cm. #0120/0820 ISBN 10: 0868406961ISBN 13: 9780868406961

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