Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa (Comstock Books in Herpetology) - Hardcover

Channing, Alan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801438659 ISBN 13: 9780801438653

Publisher: Comstock Pub. Associates, 2001

Synopsis

Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa is the first comprehensive guide to the frogs, toads, and caecilians of the ten sub-equatorial African countries―Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The result is at once a valuable reference tool, a field guide, and a source of ideas for future research.A source of increasing interest in their own right, amphibians are also benchmark species for biodiversity, and are used as laboratory animals in many of the sciences. In the wild, amphibians, especially frogs, act as natural monitors of water quality and are invaluable in pest control. Their skins secrete a wide range of pharmacologically active substances, such as antibiotics and painkillers. Yet frog populations are declining worldwide, mainly due to human destruction of their habitats. Alan Channing synthesizes information published over the last century to provide the first natural history and a portrait of the amphibian fauna of this vast region.Key features of Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa include*detailed accounts for 205 species of frogs and toads (and 2 species of caecilian) accompanied by color illustrations, distribution maps, details of breeding and tadpole behavior, and call descriptions*illustrations and tadpole identification keys for each genus*special sections for some species with topics such as "skin toxins"*an overview of fossil frogs, a discussion of humankind and frogs in Africa, and a bibliography of African frog biology

About this title

Review:

"Alan Channing has produced a 'field guide' with the most extensive geographic range for amphibians for any part of Africa. . . . The book is thorough, yet succinct. It includes amply illustrated taxonomic keys and a glossary, so the user can quickly identify a specimen to family, then to genus, and then to species. . . . Channing has learned from and improved upon the format of previous books, and his geographical coverage is greater than most. . . . For those persons interested in learning about the amphibians in central and southern Africa, or doing fieldwork there, having a thorough volume like Channing's will make it a lot easier."―Copeia, 2002, No. 4

"In all, this book is not only a first-of-its-kind and long-awaited reference/guide book, but a book that is most readable and easily understood by virtually anyone interested in amphibians. One will be delighted by the excellent writing style and wealth of information presented by Channing."―Sonoran Herpetologist, 2002

"Herpetologist Channing has produced a superb identification and reference guide to the more than 200 species of caecilians, toads, and frogs of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. . . . Well-written and authoritative. Recommended."―Choice, July 2002

"This book represents a major advance in the study of African amphibians. . . . Channing has extensive field experience and knowledge of amphibians of central and southern Africa, and his book will be of great interest to naturalists, biologists, and frog lovers."―Javier Valverde, Reptilia, No 23, August 2002

"Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa is more than a conventional field guide; it offers information in addition to the usual brief species descriptions, distribution maps and colour photographs typically found in a field guide."―Graham J. Alexander, University of the Witwatersrand, African Journal of Herpetology, 51(2) 2002

"Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa is a comprehensive, easy to read compilation of the current state of knowledge on amphibians in sub-equatorial Africa. . . . Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa is comprehensive, well written and suitable for both amateurs and researchers."―Janet Hughes, Penn State, E-Streams, Vol. 5, No. 7

"At last, a book that covers the amphibians of all of central and southern Africa! Alan Channing has combined his wide experience in the field and unique familiarity with the vocalizations of the frogs with a detailed synthesis of the literature to produce an outstanding work that will meet the needs of the interested naturalist as well as the professional biologist."―Kim M. Howell, Department of Zoology and Marine Biology, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

"Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa is a major step forward in the study of African amphibian biology. The first comprehensive treatment of southern Africa, it will be extraordinarily important in directing the way for further research. The keys are workable and the accounts succinct and accurate. Alan Channing's book will prove valuable for the serious systematist, people interested in access to what is known of the life-history of southern African frogs and caecilians, and anyone who requires knowledge on the life-history , ecology, and distribution of southern African amphibians for conservation applications."―Darrel Frost, Curator of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History

About this edition

• Publisher: Comstock Pub. Associates
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0801438659
• ISBN 13: 9780801438653
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 448