Amphibians of Western North America

Amphibians of Western North America
Author: Robert Cyril Stebbins
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 562
Release: 1951
Genre: Nature
ISBN:

This book gives accounts of all the known species of amphibians in western North America. The area delimited in this study is bounded on the south by the Mexican border, and on the east by the eastern boundaries of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Saskatchewan and Mackenzie, Canada. For each species the following information is presented : distribution, habitat, structural and color characteristics, behavior, food habits, and reproduction (including descriptions of eggs and larvae). Subspecies are described and their ranges given. [...].

Natural History Investigations in South Carolina

Natural History Investigations in South Carolina
Author: Albert E. Sanders
Publisher: Univ of South Carolina Press
Total Pages: 382
Release: 1999
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781570032783

The story of South Carolina's natural history investigations, especially in zoology and botany. It describes the state's diverse flora and fauna; the impact of social, political and economic events on natural history; and the role Charleston played in the state's scientific heritage.

"Venomous" Bites from "Non-Venomous" Snakes

Author: Scott A Weinstein
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 790
Release: 2022-08-10
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0128227877

"Venomous" Bites from "Non-Venomous" Snakes, Second Edition thoroughly examines the potential hazards associated with bites by non-front-fanged snakes (popularly, but inaccurately, called "rear-fanged snakes"). This diverse group contains approximately 80% of living snake species (approximately 2,900 species). A large proportion of these snakes were previously assigned to the family Colubridae but, as a consequence of expanding systematics investigations, have been split into multiple families and subfamilies. Many of these snakes produce venoms or oral secretions that contain toxins and other biologically active substances. A large variety of non–front-fanged snakes figure in the pet industry, yet little documented information or formal study of their potential medical importance has been published. Therefore, although the possible medical importance of many of these species has been subjected to speculation since the mid-19th century, there is a limited amount of useful descriptive information regarding the real hazard (or lack thereof) of this wide variety of snakes. The first edition of this book provided "one-stop shopping" by offering information regarding their possible toxicity and clinical relevance as well as recommendations for medical management of their bites. The second edition expands and updates the content with detailed information about the effects and medical management of bites by a broad representation of non–front-fanged species. The hypothetical venomous nature of some lizards considered as non-venomous such as the Komodo monitor or dragon and their allies, as well as the medical effects of their bites, is also examined. The dynamic taxonomy of advanced snakes is updated, and the bases for some of these fluid changes are discussed. Likewise, terminology is also updated in order to reflect the ongoing debates regarding the definition of "venom" and the balanced reinforcement of nonmedical criteria used to define the biological basis of the term "venomous." Fills a gap in toxicological, medical, and herpetological literature by providing a comprehensive review of this entire assemblage of non–front-fanged snakes, with particular attention given to their capacity to cause harm to humans Offers a patient-centered, evidence-based approach which is applied to analyzing documented case reports of bites inflicted by a broad representation of species Provides expanded and updated detailed information on the clinical management of medically significant bites from non–front-fanged snakes, which is also methodically reviewed, and specific recommendations are provided Includes updates of the fluid taxonomy of advanced snakes and also of terminology with particular regard to the definition of "venom" and the nonmedical criteria used to define the biological basis of the "venomous condition" in snakes and lizards