The Firefly Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians covers every family, ranging from large, predatory constrictors and crocodilians to miniature tree frogs and salamanders. Since 2002, this highly acclaimed encyclopedia has provided specialists, educators and general readers with an authoritative and comprehensive overview of the world's reptiles and amphibians. Universally praised and cited widely in scholarly and lay publications, it belongs in all collections.

Table of Contents

• Contributors
• Preface
• AMPHIBIANS
• The Transition to Land: EVOLUTION AND FOSSIL HISTORY
• Missing Links: Modern Amphibians
• Adaptations to the Environment: Form and Function
• The Biogeographical Background: Distribution Patterns
• Carnivores and Cannibals: Diet and Feeding
• Undulations and Bounds: Locomotion
• Sending Sperm in Packets: Reproduction
• Subtle Signals: Social Behavior and Communication
• In Peril Worldwide: Conservation and Environment
• Caecilians
• Wormlike Burrowers: Form and Function
• Living off the Soil: Diet and Feeding
• Larvae and Live Young: Breeding and Development
• Subject to Stress: Conservation and Environment
• The Main Groupings
• American Tailed Caecilians: Rhinatrematidae
• Asian Tailed Caecilians: Ichthyophiidae
• Scolecomorph Caecilians: Scolecomorphidae
• African Caecilians: Herpelidae
• North-east Indian Caecilians: Chikilidae
• Common Caecilians: Caeciliidae
• Aquatic Caecilians and Rubber Eels: Typhlonectidae
• Indo-African Caecilians: Indotyphlidae
• South American Caecilians: Siphonopodidae
• Neotropical and Tropical African Caecilians: Dermophiidae
• Caecilian Families
• American tailed caecilians
• Asian tailed caecilians
• Buried-eyed caecilians
• African caecilians
• Indian caecilians
• Common caecilians
• Aquatic caecilians (rubber eels)
• Indo-African caecilians
• Siphonopid caecilians
• Neotropical and tropical African caecilians
• Salamanders and Newts
• Smooth-skinned Carnivores: Form and Function
• On Land and In the Water: Distribution Patterns
• Different Lives, Different Life Cycles: Reproduction and Development
• Giant Salamanders: Family Cryptobranchidae
• Asiatic Salamanders: Family Hynobiidae
• Olm, Mudpuppies, and Waterdogs: Family Proteidae
• Sirens: Family Sirenidae
• Mole Salamanders: Family Ambystomatidae
• Newts and European Salamanders: Family Salamandridae
• Torrent Salamanders: Family Rhyacotritonidae
• Amphiumas: Family Amphiumidae
• Lungless Salamanders: Family Plethodontidae
• Salamander and Newt Families
• Giant salamanders and hellbenders
• Asiatic salamanders
• Olm, mudpuppies, and waterdogs
• Sirens
• Newts and European salamanders
• Torrent salamanders
• COURTSHIP AND MATING IN SALAMANDERS AND NEWTS: The twists and turns of an elaborate reproductive ritual
• REPELLENT DEFENDERS: The antipredator arsenal of salamanders and newts
• Frogs and Toads
• Built for Leaping: Form and Function
• Coping with Heat and Cold: Temperature and Water Regulation
• Continuous or Explosive: Reproduction and Development
• The Human Impact: Conservation and Environment
• Tailed Frogs: Family Ascaphidae
• New Zealand Frogs: Family Leiopelmatidae
• Midwife Toads and Painted Frogs: Family Alytidae
• Fire-bellied Toads and Barbourulas: Family Bombinatoridae
• Mexican Burrowing Toad: Family Rhinophrynidae
• Clawed Frogs and Surinam Toad: Family Pipidae
• American Spadefoot Toads: Family Scaphiopodidae
• Parsley Frogs: Family Pelodytidae
• Eurasian Spadefoot Toads: Family Pelobatidae
• Asian Litter Frogs: Family Megophryidae
• Ghost Frogs
• Central Chilean Frogs: Family Calyptocephalellidae
• Australian Toadlets and Water Frogs: Family Myobatrachidae
• Australian Ground Frogs: Family Limnodynastidae
• Turkeit Hill Frogs: Family Allophrynidae
• Glass Frogs: Family Centrolenidae
• South American Water Frogs: Family Leptodactylidae
• Tree Toads and Spiny-thumb Frogs, and Big-tooth Frogs: Family Hylodidae
• Rocket Frogs: Family Aromobatidae
• Poison Dart Frogs: Family Dendrobatidae
• Button Frogs and Relatives: Family Cycloramphidae
• Darwin's Frogs: Family Rhinodermatidae
• Spiny-chested Frogs and Ground Frogs: Family Alsodidae
• Smooth-horned Frogs and Escuerzos: Family Odontophrynidae
• True Toads, Harlequin Frogs, and Relatives: Family Bufonidae
• Amero-Australian Tree Frogs: Family Hylidae
• South American Horned Frogs: Family Ceratophryidae
• Water Frogs: Family Telmatobiidae
• ‘Pagatonian’ Frogs: Family Batrachylidae
• Marsupial Frogs and Casque-headed Frogs: Family Hemiphractidae
• Rain Frogs, Chipping Frogs, Coquis: Family Eleutherodactylidae
• Three-toed Toadlets: Family Brachycephalidae
• Litter Frogs and Rain Frogs: Family Craugastoridae
• Seychelles Frogs: Family Sooglossidae
• Purple Frog: Family Nasikabatrachidae
• Leaping Frogs: Family Ranixalidae
• Mantellas, Bright-eyed Frogs, and Madagascan Forest Frogs: Family Mantellidae
• Afro-Asian Tree Frogs and Bush Frogs: Family Rhacophoridae
• Pyxie Frogs, Dainty Frogs, and Relatives: Family Pyxicephalidae
• African Water Frogs: Family Petropedetidae
• Sierra Leone Water Frog: Family Odontobatrachidae
• Slippery Frogs and Goliath Frog: Family Conrauidae
• Puddle Frogs: Family Phrynobatrachidae
• African Grass Frogs: Family Ptychadenidae
• True Frogs: Family Ranidae
• Ground Frogs, Forest Frogs, Leaf Frogs: Family Ceratobatrachidae
• Indian Torrent Frogs: Family Micrixalidae
• Wart Frogs and Night Frogs: Family Nyctibatrachidae
• Stream Frogs, Wart Frogs, and Relatives: Family Dicroglossidae
• African Rain Frogs: Family Brevicipitidae
• Shovel-Nosed Frogs: Family Hemisotidae
• Reed Frogs: Family Hyperoliidae
• Squeakers and Cricket Frogs: Family Arthroleptidae
• Narrow-mouthed Frogs: Family Microhylidae
• Frog and Toad Families
• Tailed frogs
• New Zealand frogs
• Midwife toads and painted frogs
• Fire-bellied toads and barbourulas
• Mexican burrowing toad
• Clawed frogs and Surinam toad
• American spadefoot toads
• Asian litter frogs
• Ghost frogs
• Central Chilean frogs
• Australian toadlets and water frogs
• Australian ground frogs
• Tukeit Hill Frogs
• Glass frogs
• South American water frogs
• Tree toads, spiny-thumbed frogs, and big-tooth frogs
• Rocket frogs
• Button frogs and relatives
• Darwin's frogs
• Spiny-chested frogs and ground frogs
• Smooth horned frogs and escuerzos
• True toads, harlequin frogs, and relatives
• Tree frogs
• South American horned frogs
• Water frogs
• “Patagonian frogs”
• Marsupial frogs and casque-headed frogs
• Rain frogs and chirping frogs
• Three-toed toadlets and big-headed frogs
• Litter frogs
• Seychelles frogs
• Purple or pig-nose frog
• Leaping frogs
• Mantellas, bright-eyed frogs, and Madagascan forest frogs
• Afro-Asian tree frogs, bush frogs
• Pyxie frogs, dainty frogs, African bullfrogs, and relatives
• African water frogs
• Slippery frogs and Goliath frog
• Sierra Leone Water Frog
• Puddle frogs
• African grass frogs
• “True” frogs
• Ground frogs, forest frogs, and leaf frogs
• Indian torrent frogs or Indian dancing frogs
• Wart frogs and night frogs
• Stream frogs, wart frogs, and relatives
• African rain frogs
• Shovel-nosed frogs
• Reed frogs
• Squeakers, bush frogs, and relatives
• Narrow-mouthed frogs
• LEAPS AND BOUNDS: The mechanics of anuran locomotion
• DECODING THE FROG CHORUS: Vocal communication in frogs and toads
• REPTILES
• How Reptiles Began: Origins and Classification
• Beneath the Scales: Skin
• History in Bones: Skeletal Structure
• Egg-layers and Live-bearers: Reproduction
• Turtles and Tortoises
• Armor on Legs: THE TURTLE'S SHELL
• Showing their Age: Growth
• Not So Slow in the Water: Locomotion
• Deep Breathing: Respiration
• Unhurried Hunters: Diet
• Preserving the Eggs: Mating and Reproduction
• A Gradual Build-up of Biomass: Population Biology
• When Turtles Interact: Social Behavior
• The Human Impact: Conservation and Environment
• Turtle and Tortoise Families
• American side-necked river turtles and Madagascan big-headed turtle
• African side-necked turtles
• Austro-American side-necked turtles
• Pig-nosed turtle
• Softshell turtles
• Seaturtles
• Leatherback seaturtle
• Snapping turtles
• Central American river turtle
• American mud and musk turtles
• Tortoises
• Eurasian pond and river turtles, Neotropical wood turtles
• Big-headed turtle
• Pond turtles
• THE ASIAN TURTLE CRISIS: How international trafficking is threatening some species’ survival
• Lizards
• Agile and Thick-skinned: Form and Function
• Scurrying and Burrowing: Locomotion
• Strategies for Security: Defense
• Mostly Predatory: Feeding Behavior
• Mutual Grooming and Threat Displays: Social Behavior
• Copulation and After: Reproduction
• Populations at Risk: Conservation and Environment
• Blind Lizards: Family Dibamidae
• Southwest Pacific Geckos: Family Diplodactylidae
• Knob-tailed Geckos, Leaf-tailed Geckos, and Relatives: Family Carphodactylidae
• Flap-footed Lizards: Family Pygopodidae
• Eyelid Geckos: Family Eublepharidae
• Dwarf Geckos: Family Sphaerodactylidae
• Geckos: Family Gekkonidae
• Leaf-toed Geckos: Family Phyllodactylus
• Crag and Girdle-tailed Lizards: Family Cordylidae
• Plated Lizards: Family Gerrhosauridae
• Night Lizards: Family Xantusiidae
• Skinks: Family Scinidae
• Wall and Sand Lizards: Family Lacertidae
• Microteiid Lizards: Family Gymnophthalmidae
• Whiptails and Racerunners: Family Teiidae
• Glass Lizards, Alligator Lizards, and Relatives: Family Anguidae
• Galliwasps and South American Alligator Lizards: Family Diploglossidae
• Legless Lizards: Family Anniellidae
• Knob-scaled Lizards: Family Xenosauridae
• Beaded Lizards: Family Helodermatidae
• Chinese crocodile lizard: Family Shinisauridae
• Bornean Earless Monitor: Family Lanthanotidae
• Monitor Lizards: Family Varanidae
• Chameleons: Family Chamaeleonidae
• Chisel-teeth Lizards: Family Agamidae
• Iguanas: One Family or 12
• North American Spiny Lizards and Horned LIzards: Family Phrynosomatidae
• True Iguanas: Family Iguanidae
• Collared and Leopard Lizards: Family Crotaphytidae
• Curly-tailed Lizards: Family Leiocephalidae
• Bush Anoles: Family Polychrotidae
• Anoles: Family Dactyloidae
• Basilisks and Casque-headed Lizards: Family Corytophanidae
• Lava Lizards: Family Tropiduridae
• Dwarf Iguanas and Weapontails: Family Hoplocercidae
• Snow Swifts and Tree Iguanas: Family Liolaemidae
• Leiosaurs: Family Leiosauridae
• Madagascan Iguanas: Family Opluridae
• Lizard Families
• Blind lizards
• Knob-tailed geckos
• Flap-footed lizards
• Eyelid geckos
• Dwarf geckos
• Typical geckos
• Leaf-toed geckos
• Plated lizards
• Night lizards
• Skinks
• Wall and sand lizards
• Microteiid lizards
• Whiptails and racerunners
• Glass lizards, alligator lizards, and relatives
• Galliwasps and South American alligator lizards
• Legless lizards
• Beaded lizards
• Chinese crocodile lizard
• Bornean earless monitor
• Chameleons
• Chisel-teeth lizards
• North American spiny lizards and horned lizards
• True iguanas
• Collared and leopard lizards
• Curly-tailed lizards
• Bush anoles
• Basilisks and casque-headed lizards
• Dwarf iguanas and weapontails
• Worm-lizards
• Head-bangers and Scrapers: Form and Function
• Worms with Teeth: Feeding and Reproduction
• Snakes
• Life without Limbs: Form and Function
• Scaly Coatings: Skin
• Tasting the Air: Senses and Sense Organs
• The Mechanics of Slithering: Locomotion
• Swallowing Prey Whole: Feeding
• Disguise and Warning: Defense
• Sperm Storers: Reproduction
• Running Out of Room: Conservation and Environment
• Snake Classification: Taxonomy
• Blindsnakes: Families Typhlopidae, Xenotyphlopidae, Gerrhopilidae, Leptotyphlopidae, and Anomalepididae
• Pipe snakes: Family Aniliidae
• Dwarf Boas and Mascarene Boas: Families Tropidophiidae and Bolyeriidae
• Sunbeam Snakes: Families Xenopeltidae, Loxocemidae
• Boas and Pythons: Families Boidae, Pythonidae
• Shield-tailed Snakes, Pipe Snakes, and Dwarf Pipe Snakes: Family Uropeltidae
• Spine-jaw Snakes: Family Xenophiidae
• File Snakes: Family Acrochordidae
• Odd-scaled Snakes: Family Xenodermatidae
• Asian Slug- and Snail-eating Snakes: Family Pareatidae
• Vipers and Pitvipers: Family Viperidae
• Asian Water Snakes: Family Homalopsidae
• Stiletto Snakes, Mole Vipers, House Snakes, and their Relatives: Family Lamprophiidae
• Cobras and their Relatives: Family Elapidae
• Colubrids: Family Colubridae
• Snake Families
• Blindsnakes
• Malagasy blindsnakes
• Blindsnakes
• Slender blindsnakes and threadsnakes
• Early, or dawn, blindsnakes
• Red pipesnake
• Dwarf boas
• Neotropical sunbeam snake
• Asian sunbeam snakes
• Mascarene or Split-jawed boas
• Spine-jaw snakes
• Asian slug- and snail-eating snakes
• Asian water snakes
• Stiletto snakes and their allies
• Cobras, seasnakes, and relatives
• Colubrids
• Tuatara
• Last of the Rhynchocephalians: Form and Function
• Long, Slow Lives: Reproduction and Development
• Island Refuges: Conservation and Environment
• Crocodilians
• Aquatic Hunters: Form and Function
• Subtle Predators: Diet and Feeding
• Adjusting the Thermostat: Thermal Regulation
• Pantropical Travelers: Distribution and Environment
• Dominant Males and Breeding Groups: Social Behavior
• Getting the Message Across: Communication
• Hole Nesters and Mound Nesters: Reproduction
• Older is Safer: Ecology
• An Australian Success Story: Conservation Issues
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Picture and artwork credits