The New Encyclopedia of Snakes

Book excerpt: This comprehensive, highly illustrated guide covers the most popular aspects of snake biology. Throughout, colour photographs show the fascinating variety of snake colouration as well as illustrating their amazing capacity for camouflage. Chapters investigate main themes, using text, photography and useful diagrams. There is detailed coverage of snake classification, evolution, natural diversity, size, shape and colouration, physiology, ecology, feeding, defensive behaviour, breeding, mythology, superstition and modern human attitudes to snakes. In addition, there are fact boxes within each chapter, which comprise items of special importance and interest, such as scale-type, population in the wild, egg incubation, etc. Above all, this is a major international title for all involved and interested in snakes, their zoology and care in captivity.