Princeton Field Guides

Joseph M. Forshaw is one of Australia's foremost ornithologists and a world-renowned expert on parrots. His books include Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide (Princeton). Frank Knight has been an illustrator for three decades, producing artwork for scientific papers, books, and lectures. His books include The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia. The world's parrots in one convenient field guide From the macaws of South America to the cockatoos of Australia, parrots are among the most beautiful and exotic birds in the world-and among the most endangered. This stunningly illustrated, easy-to-use field guide covers all 356 species and well-differentiated subspecies of parrots, and is the only guide organized by geographical distribution-Australasian, Afro-Asian, and neotropical. It features 146 superb color plates depicting every kind of parrot, as well as detailed, facing-page species accounts that describe key identification features, distribution, subspeciation, habitat, and status. Color distribution maps show ranges of all subspecies, and field identification is further aided by relevant upperside and underside flight images. This premier field guide also shows where to observe each species in the wild, helping make this the most comprehensive and user-friendly guide to the parrots of the world. • The only parrot guide to focus on geographical distribution • Covers all 356 species • Features 146 color plates depicting all species and well-differentiated subspecies • Provides detailed facing-page species accounts that describe key identification features, distribution, subspeciation, habitat, and status • Includes color distribution maps • Shows where to observe each species in the wild "Provides an interesting look into the diversity of one of the most well-known families of birds and also some of the most rare and beautiful species on the planet." "This guide is a must-have for any parrot lover or bird enthusiast."---Eva Matthews, Flying Mullet "One major highlight of this book for me is the treatment of subspecies. Ranges of all subspecies are depicted on the maps and all are briefly described in the text, and many subspecies receive their own illustrations. . . . This is an excellent reference for anyone interested in general parrot diversity."---Nicholas Sly, Biological Ramblings "Noted Australian ornithologist Forshaw has designed this new work to be more useful in the field. It features paintings and text allowing identification of 356 species. Subspecies are also illustrated and discussed, adding immensely to the value of the book. . . . It is the best book on the market for those who want to view and identify parrots in the wild." "Although there are other books on the parrots of the world, this guide is, in my opinion, the easiest to use. It would make a fine addition to anyone's library."---Fritz Brock, Wildlife Activist "Those working in markets, museums, border inspection, aviculture, etc., will find the guide sufficiently small and portable that they will be comfortable taking it along to compare directly with individual birds to be identified. As a result, Forshaw's 2010 Parrots of the World accomplishes its stated goal of providing the best available option for those needing to reliably identify parrots either in the wild, the museum or captivity."---Donald J. Brightsmith, Ornitological Neotropical "Colorful, well-organized and amazingly detailed, Parrots of the World is a grand book for any birder to browse, whether they are interested in their local parrots, exotic species or just birds they hope to add to their life list one day."---Melissa Mayntz, About.com

"Winner of a 2015 Outstanding Reference Sources Award, Reference and User Services Association, American Library Association" Paul H. Williams is a research entomologist at the Natural History Museum in London. Robbin W. Thorp (1933–2019) was a distinguished professor emeritus of entomology at the University of California, Davis. Leif L. Richardson is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Dartmouth College. Sheila R. Colla is an NSERC postdoctoral fellow and project leader at Wildlife Preservation Canada. The essential guide for identifying the bumble bees of North America More than ever before, there is widespread interest in studying bumble bees and the critical role they play in our ecosystems. Bumble Bees of North America is the first comprehensive guide to North American bumble bees to be published in more than a century. Richly illustrated with color photographs, diagrams, range maps, and graphs of seasonal activity patterns, this guide allows amateur and professional naturalists to identify all 46 bumble bee species found north of Mexico and to understand their ecology and changing geographic distributions. The book draws on the latest molecular research, shows the enormous color variation within species, and guides readers through the many confusing convergences between species. It draws on a large repository of data from museum collections and presents state-of-the-art results on evolutionary relationships, distributions, and ecological roles. Illustrated keys allow identification of color morphs and social castes. A landmark publication, Bumble Bees of North America sets the standard for guides and the study of these important insects. • The best guide yet to the 46 recognized bumble bee species in North America north of Mexico • Up-to-date taxonomy includes previously unpublished results • Detailed distribution maps • Extensive keys identify the many color patterns of species "A very helpful guide for any one interested in bumble bees."---Amanda Williams, buzzaboutbees.net "As bee populations plummet and environmental concerns continue to make the news, there is widespread interest in bees. This attractively priced guide helps users identify the 46 species found north of Mexico and offers insight into their ecology and habitats. . . . This guide will be useful in public and academic libraries where there is an interest in bees or the environment."---Rebecca Vnuk, Booklist "Identif[ies] the 46 species of bumblebee that are found in North America (Mexico is not included), far more than previous guides. The introduction presents clear information on these bees generally, their distribution, colony cycle, and interactions with plants. . . . An attractive, worthwhile purchase."---Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal "Because of their importance as a pollinator, their ubiquity (in various species, of course) across the continent, and simply because the lives and behaviors bumble bees are so fascinating, Bumble Bees of North America should be considered as a must-read by all amateur naturalists. Professionals--be they entomologists, ecologists, general biologists, and most especially teachers of life science subjects at all levels--would also do well to add it to their reading lists for both its superb introduction to the genus as well as its value as a reference guide."---John Riutta, Well-read Naturalist "The timely arrival of Bumble Bees of North America on bookstore shelves is as welcome as its namesake insects are in gardens. . . . Given that the last comprehensive guide to North American bumble bees was published in 1913, Williams, Thorps, Richardson, and Colla's Bumble Bees of North America offers a much?needed review of the status and identification of the 46 bumble bee species north of Mexico. . . . [A] much?needed milestone in the ability of scientists and citizens alike to sort bee species found afield and at home. With bees on the decline, the abil

Peter van der Sleen is a postdoctoral fellow at the Marine Science Institute of the University of Texas, Austin. James S. Albert is professor of biology at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. He is the coeditor of Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes. The Amazon and Orinoco basins in northern South America are home to the highest concentration of freshwater fish species on earth, with more than 3,000 species allotted to 564 genera. Amazonian fishes include piranhas, electric eels, freshwater stingrays, a myriad of beautiful small-bodied tetras and catfishes, and the largest scaled freshwater fish in the world, the pirarucu. Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas provides descriptions and identification keys for all the known genera of fishes that inhabit Greater Amazonia, a vast and still mostly remote region of tropical rainforests, seasonally flooded savannas, and meandering lowland rivers. The guide's contributors include more than fifty expert scientists. They summarize the current state of knowledge on the taxonomy, species richness, and ecology of these fish groups, and provide references to relevant literature for species-level identifications. This richly illustrated guide contains 700 detailed drawings, 190 color photos, and 500 distribution maps, which cover all genera. An extensive and illustrated glossary helps readers with the identification keys. The first complete overview of the fish diversity in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas, this comprehensive guide is essential for anyone interested in the freshwater life inhabiting this part of the world. • First complete overview of the fish diversity in the Amazon and Orinoco basins • Contributors include more than fifty experts • Identification keys and distribution maps for all genera • 190 stunning color photos • 700 detailed line drawings • Extensive and illustrated glossary "This book is a really great source not only for all ichthyologists working with fish from the AOG, but also for all interested in the AOG fish fauna. The authors did a big hit while including all genera and giving keys to all of them. It's worth much more than the price asked for."---Harro Hieronimus, Bulletin of Fish Biology "This is an extremely valuable guide to the genera of fishes in the Amazon. Contributors include every prominent ichthyologist working on Amazonian fishes today, making this an essential guide to the field."-Luiz A. Rocha, California Academy of Sciences "Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas is an outstanding contribution to the field of neotropical ichthyology. There are no similar books on the market."-Jansen Zuanon, National Institute for Amazonian Research

Dennis Paulson is one of the world's leading experts on dragonflies and damselflies and has watched and photographed his favorite insect on every continent. He is the author of the major field guides to North American species, Dragonflies of the West and Dragonflies of the East (both Princeton), and has written more than fifty scientific papers on the group. Now retired from his position as the director of the Salter Museum of Natural History at the University of Puget Sound, he lives in Seattle. A lavishly illustrated introduction to the world's dragonflies and damselflies Dragonflies and damselflies are often called birdwatchers' insects. Large, brightly colored, active in the daytime, and displaying complex and interesting behaviors, they have existed since the days of the dinosaurs, and they continue to flourish. Their ancestors were the biggest insects ever, and they still impress us with their size, the largest bigger than a small hummingbird. There are more than 6,000 odonate species known at present, and you need only visit any wetland on a warm summer day to be enthralled by their stunning colors and fascinating behavior. In this lavishly illustrated natural history, leading dragonfly expert Dennis Paulson offers a comprehensive, accessible, and appealing introduction to the world's dragonflies and damselflies. The book highlights the impressive skills and abilities of dragonflies and damselflies-superb fliers that can glide, hover, cruise, and capture prey on the wing. It also describes their arsenal of tactics to avoid predators, and their amazing sex life, including dazzling courtship displays, aerial mating, sperm displacement, mate guarding, and male mimicry. Dragonflies and Damselflies includes profiles of more than fifty of the most interesting and beautiful species from around the world. Learn about the Great Cascade Damsel, which breeds only at waterfalls, the mesmerizing flight of Blue-winged Helicopters, and how the larva of the Common Sanddragon can burrow into sand as efficiently as a mole. Combining expert text and excellent color photographs, this is a must-have guide to these remarkable insects. • A lavishly illustrated, comprehensive, and accessible natural history that reveals the beauty and diversity of one of the world's oldest and most popular insect groups • Offers a complete guide to the evolution, life cycles, biology, anatomy, behavior, and habitats of dragonflies and damselflies • Introduces the 39 families of dragonflies and damselflies through exemplary species accounts • Features tips on field observation and lab research, and information on threats and conservation "Spend a few hours with this book, and you'll have a better appreciation and understanding of life in a warm weather wetland."---Scott Shalaway, WV News "[A] beautiful and informative book on the natural history of one of the oldest orders of insects."---Mark A. McPhee, The Quarterly Review of Biology ""[A] fantastic look into a part of the insect world that many of us take for granted."---Jim Dronenburg, Washington Gardener "If you have been curious about dragonflies, here's a beautiful new book that will open the Odonata world for you."---Anne Hanley, Trumpeter "This is a book to turn to again and again and find new treasures each time."---Giff Beaton, Birding Magazine

David L. Wagner is Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut. He is coauthor of two United States Forest Service guides, Caterpillars of Eastern Forests and Geometroid Caterpillars of Northeastern and Appalachian Forests. This lavishly illustrated guide will enable you to identify the caterpillars of nearly 700 butterflies and moths found east of the Mississippi. The more than 1,200 color photographs and two dozen line drawings include numerous exceptionally striking images. The giant silk moths, tiger moths, and many other species covered include forest pests, common garden guests, economically important species, and of course, the Mescal Worm and Mexican Jumping Bean caterpillars. Full-page species accounts cover almost 400 species, with up to six images per species including an image of the adult plus succinct text with information on distribution, seasonal activity, foodplants, and life history. These accounts are generously complemented with additional images of earlier instars, closely related species, noteworthy behaviors, and other intriguing aspects of caterpillar biology. Many caterpillars are illustrated here for the first time. Dozens of new foodplant records are presented and erroneous records are corrected. The book provides considerable information on the distribution, biology, and taxonomy of caterpillars beyond that available in other popular works on Eastern butterflies and moths. The introductory chapter covers caterpillar structure, life cycles, rearing, natural enemies, photography, and conservation. The section titled "Caterpillar Projects" will be of special interest to educators. Given the dearth of accessible guides on the identification and natural history of caterpillars, Caterpillars of Eastern North America is a must for entomologists and museum curators, forest managers, conservation biologists and others who seek a compact, easy-to-use guide to the caterpillars of this vast region. • A compact guide to nearly 700 caterpillars east of the Mississippi, from forest pests to garden guests and economically important species • 1,200 color photos and 24 line drawings enable easy identification • Full-page species accounts with image of adult insect for almost 400 species, plus succinct text on distribution and other vital information • Many caterpillars illustrated here for the first time • Current information on distribution, biology, and taxonomy not found in other popular works • A section geared toward educators, "Caterpillar Projects" • An indispensable resource for all who seek an easy-to-use guide to the caterpillars of this vast region "A lusciously photographed book generally regarded as the most comprehensive field guide ever to caterpillars, as opposed to their better-documented adult forms--moths and butterflies. . . . In the book, the fruit of a decade's research, Dr. Wagner . . . argues passionately that creeping things can be every bit as mesmerizing and transporting as those that flit and dart in the air."---Andy Newman, New York Times "This is a wonderful field guide for those interested in studying the fascinating world of caterpillars in the backyard, parks, woods and fields around us."---Robert E. Hoopes, Wildlife Activist "David Wagner has produced a user-friendly field guide that goes well beyond anything else available." "As a teacher of the university courses in insect biology and classification, I will use this book heavily; yet it is attractive and simply written enough to be much more widely appealing for children, teachers, and indeed anyone with interest in naturally history. David Wagner is to be congratulated for communicating his knowledge of the Lepidoptera so clearly and appealingly to the rest of us."---J.B. Whitfield, Annals of the Entomological Society of America "In general, the images of caterpillars and adults in this book are superb, the

José R. Castelló is a medical doctor, naturalist, and wildlife photographer. He is a member of the American Society of Mammalogists and the Spanish Society for Conservation and Study of Mammals. He is the author of Bovids of the World: Antelopes, Gazelles, Cattle, Goats, Sheep, and Relatives (Princeton). The most complete and user-friendly photographic field guide to the world's canids This stunningly illustrated and easy-to-use field guide covers every species of the world's canids, from the Gray Wolf of North America to the dholes of Asia, from African jackals to the South American Bush Dog. It features more than 150 superb color plates depicting every kind of canid and detailed facing-page species accounts that describe key identification features, morphology, distribution, subspeciation, habitat, and conservation status in the wild. The book also includes distribution maps and tips on where to observe each species, making Canids of the World the most comprehensive and user-friendly guide to these intriguing and spectacular mammals. • Covers every species and subspecies of canid • Features more than 150 color plates with more than 600 photos from around the globe • Depicts species in similar poses for quick and easy comparisons • Describes key identification features, habitat, behavior, reproduction, and much more • Draws on the latest taxonomic research • Includes distribution maps and tips on where to observe each species • The ideal field companion and a delight for armchair naturalists "Canids of the World is a timely resource and a fascinating survey of wolves and their canine relatives."---Nancy Jo Tubbs, International Wolf "This is the best encyclopedia any reader or writer can hope for. I look forward to returning to it over the coming years."

An authoritative illustrated guide to the fearsome predators that dominated the Mesozoic world for 180 million years New discoveries are transforming our understanding of the theropod dinosaurs, revealing startling new insights into the lives and look of these awesome predators. The Princeton Field Guide to Predatory Dinosaurs provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive coverage of the mighty hunters that ruled the earth for tens of millions of years. This incredible guide covers some 300 species and features stunning illustrations of predatory theropods of all shapes and sizes. It discusses their history, anatomy, physiology, locomotion, reproduction, growth, and extinction, and even gives a taste of what it might be like to travel back to the Mesozoic. This one-of-a-kind guide also discusses the controversies surrounding these marvelous creatures, taking up such open questions as the form and habitats of the gigantic Spinosaurus and the number of Tyrannosaurus species that may have existed. • Features detailed species accounts of some 300 theropod dinosaurs, with the latest size and mass estimates • Shares new perspectives on iconic predators such as T. rex and Velociraptor • Covers everything from the biology of predatory dinosaurs to the colorful history of paleontology • Features a wealth of color and black-and-white drawings and figures, including life studies, scenic views, and original skeletal, skull, and muscle reconstructions • Includes detailed color maps Gregory S. Paul is a renowned dinosaur researcher and illustrator who helped establish the "new look" of the Mesozoic creatures seen in contemporary movies and documentaries. His books include The Princeton Field Guide to Mesozoic Sea Reptiles, The Princeton Field Guide to Pterosaurs, and The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs (all Princeton). His work has appeared in leading publications such as National Geographic, Scientific American, Nature, and the New York Times. "A remarkable work in so many ways. If you are a scientist involved daily with dinosaurs you will want to read this. If you are a citizen scientist involved with recovery sites you will barely be able to put it down. Finally, if you are an interested aficionado you will be thrilled by the depth of knowledge acquired from this major work."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds "This book is a must-have."---Ian Paulsen, The Birdbooker Report "[This book presents] its subject in both black and white as well as vivid colour illustrations, all thoroughly supported with extensive explanatory text presenting the history and biology of these remarkable creatures, as well as much food for thought regarding their extinction and possible species that may have existed but for which insufficient fossil evidence has yet been found."---John E. Riutta, The Well-Read Naturalist

Roland W. Kays is the curator of mammals at the New York State Museum. Don E. Wilson is a senior scientist at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. His books include The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals and Mammal Species of the World. The best field guide to North American mammals The best-selling field guide that "sets new standards" (New Scientist) and "makes all other field guides for mammals of the United States. . . and Canada obsolete" (Journal of Mammalogy) is now even better. Covering 20 species recognized since 2002 and including 13 new color plates, this fully revised edition of Mammals of North America illustrates all 462 known mammal species in the United States and Canada-each in beautiful color and accurate detail. With a more up-to-date species list than any other guide, improved facing-page descriptions, easier-to-read distribution maps, updated common and scientific names, and track and scat illustrations, this slim, light, and easy-to-use volume is the must-have source for identifying North American mammals. Roland Kays and Don Wilson have scoured the technical literature to pull out the key differences between similar species, and illustrated these whenever possible, making the guide useful to amateur naturalists and professional zoologists alike. Casual animal watchers will appreciate the overview of mammal diversity and the tips on identifying animals they can spy in their binoculars, while scientists will appreciate the exacting detail needed to distinguish similar species, including illustrations of shrew teeth, bat toes, and whale dorsal fins. • The best-illustrated and easiest-to-use field guide to North American mammals • Beautiful and accurate color illustrations of all 462 mammals found in the United States and Canada-including 20 species recognized since 2002 • 112 color plates-including 13 new ones • Key identification information-fully revised-on facing pages • The most current taxonomy/species list • Fully revised, easy-to-read range maps • Illustrations of tracks, scat, and whale and dolphin dive sequences "Praise for the first edition: "Will be welcomed by amateur naturalists and field biologists."" "Praise for the first edition: "Makes all other field guides for mammals of the United States (exclusive of Hawaii) and Canada obsolete.""---Jerry R. Choate, Journal of Mammalogy "Praise for the first edition: "Sets new standards in field guides. A must for any biological traveller to the US or Canada, as well as for residents.""---Adrian Barnett, New Scientist "Probably the easiest to use of the field guides to the mammals of North America."---Ian Palsen, Birdbooker Report "When it comes to field guides, Princeton University Press has long held a position of honor and respect among both professional and amateur naturalists for consistently providing exceptional levels of accuracy and attention to detail. With its new and updated illustrations, revised identification information, and the addition of twenty recently recognized species to its contents, the new second edition of Mammals of North America by Roland Kays and Don Wilson more than upholds this well-earned reputation."---John Riutta, The Well-read Naturalist "This is an excellent, handy field guide in the Princeton Field Guides series."---Robert Hoopes, Wildlife Activist "This is a perfect guide for naturalists of all ages and skill levels. . . . [A] wonderfully compact and easy to use field guide." "This is a truly indispensable guide for the experienced mammal watcher as well as a real treat to the novice. . . . With 112 color plates covering 462 species of North American mammals, the guide is up-to-date, accurate, handsome and handy. If you only have one reference to your local furry friends, be sure this one is on your book shelf."---Cathy Taibbi, Wildlife Conservation Examiner, Examiner.com "Many people with a 'nose for nature' want to identify whatever they s

"Honorable Mention for the 2009 National Outdoor Book Award in Nature Guidebooks" Dennis Paulson's books include Shorebirds of North America (Princeton) and Alaska: The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide. Now retired, he was director of the Slater Museum of Natural History at the University of Puget Sound. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West is the first fully illustrated field guide to all 348 species of dragonflies and damselflies in western North America. Dragonflies and damselflies are large, stunningly beautiful insects, as readily observable as birds and butterflies. This unique guide makes identifying them easy--its compact size and user-friendly design make it the only guide you need in the field. Every species is generously illustrated with full-color photographs and a distribution map, and structural features are illustrated where they aid in-hand identification. Detailed species accounts include information on size, distribution, flight season, similar species, habitat, and natural history. Dennis Paulson's introduction provides an essential primer on the biology, natural history, and conservation of these important and fascinating insects, along with helpful tips on how to observe and photograph them. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West is the field guide naturalists, conservationists, and dragonfly enthusiasts have been waiting for. • Covers all 348 western species in detail • Features a wealth of color photographs • Provides a color distribution map for every species • Includes helpful identification tips • Serves as an essential introduction to dragonflies and their natural history "Who knew that there were 348 species of dragonflies and damselflies in the Western United States? That fact alone should make nature lovers who enjoy traveling to wild places want to check out Dennis Paulson's new book, Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West, published by Princeton University Press. . . . This guide includes information on flight seasons, habitat and natural history in the description of each insect as well as helpful tips on how to observe and photograph them." "Bird watching has been a common hobby for centuries, and butterfly watching has become popular in the last few decades. Odonate watching is the newest pastime. Here, Paulson offers a comprehensive guide to Odonata of western North America. . . . This well-written, informative guide is a 'must have' for any person, amateur or scholar, interested in these insects." "[T]hese volumes are obviously authoritative, comprehensive and clearly designed with the needs of the naturalist in mind. The photographs are excellent and . . . the text makes up for the unavoidable shortcomings of a photo-guide by including full descriptions of each species. Altogether, these two volumes constitute a complete, highly informative and beautifully illustrated guide to the Odonata of North America."---Guy Padfield, UKbutterflies "Extremely well organized, and very well written. This is a superb treatment. With its impressive number of large, clear images and thorough text, it will immediately become the must-have field guide for western odonate watchers and researchers."-Giff Beaton, author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast "Dennis Paulson is recognized as one of the very best odonatologists in the world. This is a fine book, and will sell many thousands of copies. The text is well organized, and the color photos are gorgeous."-Sidney W. Dunkle, author of Dragonflies through Binoculars

"Honorable Mention for the 2018 William Mills Prize for Non-Fiction Polar Books, Polar Libraries Colloquy" Sharon Chester is a naturalist, wildlife photographer, illustrator, and author of several natural history guides, including A Wildlife Guide to Chile (Princeton). She splits her time between San Mateo, California, and her home in Fulton, Illinois, near the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The definitive full-color field guide to Arctic wildlife The Arctic Guide presents the traveler and naturalist with a portable, authoritative guide to the flora and fauna of earth's northernmost region. Featuring superb color illustrations, this one-of-a-kind book covers the complete spectrum of wildlife-more than 800 species of plants, fishes, butterflies, birds, and mammals-that inhabit the Arctic's polar deserts, tundra, taiga, sea ice, and oceans. It can be used anywhere in the entire Holarctic region, including Norway's Svalbard archipelago, Siberia, the Russian Far East, islands of the Bering Sea, Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, and Greenland. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, size, habitat, range, scientific name, and the unique characteristics that enable these organisms to survive in the extreme conditions of the Far North. A color distribution map accompanies each species account, and alternative names in German, French, Norwegian, Russian, Inuit, and Inupiaq are also provided. • Features superb color plates that allow for quick identification of more than 800 species of plants, fishes, butterflies, birds, and mammals • Includes detailed species accounts and color distribution maps • Covers the flora and fauna of the entire Arctic region "This book takes my breath away and it may leave you gasping with glee, too. Ms. Chester begins with a lively crash course in boreal geography and ecology, then begins her heroic march through nearly all of taxonomy. . . . The Arctic Guide takes the reader on a tour de force of nearly everything that's interesting in the circumboreal world."---Ed Kanze, Bedford (NY) Record-Review "Do you plan a visit to Alaska? If you do, you could do no better preparing for your natural history observations than by reading Sharon Chester's The Arctic Guide: Wildlife of the Far North."---Gerry Rising, Buffalo Spree "This is a phenomenal book. It covers the species you'd expect--birds and marine mammals--in depth. But it also includes fish, flies, even flora. It's the only book a naturalist requires for a field trip to the Arctic."---Matt Miller, Cool Green Science "This handy tome not only covers this vast region's fauna, but also touches upon climate, flora, atmospheric phenomena, landforms and oceanography. . . . The illustrations are simply sublime. . . . As a longtime Arctic guide, I recommend Chester's wholeheartedly. . . . Browse it and daydream or stuff it into your river drybag or backpack if you head north this summer."---Michael Engelhard, Alaska Dispatch News "The Arctic Guide celebrates a vast region's biodiversity. It shoehorns high-latitude lavishness between pocket-size paperback covers, and does so handsomely (and with a sewn binding that prevents its spine from cracking), at the price of a takeaway meal."---Michael Engelhard, Times Literary Supplement "An excellent one-stop guide to the Arctic."---Helen Ashton, Reference Reviews "It is difficult to imagine any observant residents, or hosts to visitors to any part of the circumpolar North, being without a copy of this book."---David W. Norton, Arctic "I can think of no other book that covers the same territory so completely."-George L. Armistead, coauthor of Better Birding "This book is an astonishing achievement. It is the perfect one-stop field guide for anyone visiting the Arctic, whether in the Old World or the New World."-Nigel Redman, coauthor of Birds of the Horn of Africa

"One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016" "One of the Birdbooker Report's Best Bird Books of 2014" Thane K. Pratt is wildlife biologist emeritus at the U.S. Geological Survey's Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center and a conservationist of birds of the tropical Pacific. He is the lead editor of Conservation Biology of Hawaiian Forest Birds. Bruce M. Beehler is an ornithologist in the Division of Birds at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and a tropical ecologist with interests in the birds and rainforests of the Asia-Pacific region. He is the author of Lost Worlds: Adventures in the Tropical Rainforest. The definitive field guide to the marvelous birds of New Guinea This is the completely revised edition of the essential field guide to the birds of New Guinea. The world's largest tropical island, New Guinea boasts a spectacular avifauna characterized by cassowaries, megapodes, pigeons, parrots, cuckoos, kingfishers, and owlet-nightjars, as well as an exceptionally diverse assemblage of songbirds such as the iconic birds of paradise and bowerbirds. Birds of New Guinea is the only guide to cover all 780 bird species reported in the area, including 366 endemics. Expanding its coverage with 111 vibrant color plates-twice as many as the first edition-and the addition of 635 range maps, the book also contains updated species accounts with new information about identification, voice, habits, and range. A must-have for everyone from ecotourists to field researchers, Birds of New Guinea remains an indispensable guide to the diverse birds of this remarkable region. • 780 bird species, including 366 found nowhere else • 111 stunning color plates, twice the number of the first edition • Expanded and updated species accounts provide details on identification, voice, habits, and range • 635 range maps • Revised classification of birds reflects the latest research "A must have for birders with an interest in the region!"---Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "This is an excellent book and will serve travelling birders very well indeed and I am sure will be just as welcomes by local wildlife lovers in New Guinea. . . . This is also a thing of beauty in itself and a pleasure to drool over."---Bo Beolens, Fatbirder "Amazing! Please buy it, whether or not you're planning a trip to West Papua or PNG. It's a must-have book. . . . [A] high quality field guide, with maps on the same page as the plates, excellent, informative text, good artwork--and everything one hopes for in a field guide." "Birds of New Guinea will be the major reference to birds of the island for many years to come and the authors are to be congratulated on a scholarly yet accessible book."---Phil Gregory, Australian Bird Life "I can not recommend this guide highly enough whether you are planning a trip to New Guinea or you are just an armchair birder widening your horizons about the world's birds. An excellent present for yourself or the birder in your family." "Pratt and Beehler here cover all 780 bird species in this region, drawing in even more biological data--including some on behavior, diet, and nesting--than typically found in field guides. Detailed species accounts are now separate from the 111 color illustrations--most new and twice as many as the first edition--with additional abridged species accounts and habitat maps facing these plates. A long-awaited, greatly expanded update to an authoritative regional reference."---Judy Quinn, Library Journal "A wonderful updated and expanded second edition to the original Birds of New Guinea published 28 years ago. . . . In Birds of New Guinea: Second Edition, the authors have greatly expanded the description of each species beyond the typical birding guide. . . . An absolute must-have for both birders and individuals who work in the public or private sector focused on conservation of New Guinea's ecosystems."---Gabriel Thoumi, Mongabay.com "A must-have for everyone from ec

Richard Condit is a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Rolando Pérez is chief botanist and Nefertaris Daguerre is a forest specialist with the Center for Tropical Forest Science at the STRI. This is the first field guide dedicated to the diverse tree species of Panama and Costa Rica. Featuring close to 500 tropical tree species, Trees of Panama and Costa Rica includes superb color photos, abundant color distribution maps, and concise descriptions of key characteristics, making this guide readily accessible to botanists, biologists, and casual nature lovers alike. The invaluable introductory chapters discuss tree diversity in Central America and the basics of tree identification. Family and species accounts are treated alphabetically and describe family size, number of genera and species, floral characteristics, and relative abundance. Color distribution maps supplement the useful species descriptions, and facing-page photographic plates detail bark, leaf, flower, or fruit of the species featured. Helpful appendices contain a full glossary, a comprehensive guide to leaf forms, and a list of families not covered. • The only tree guide to cover both Panama and Costa Rica together • Covers almost 500 species • 438 high-resolution color photos • 480 color distribution maps and two general maps • Concise and jargon-free descriptions of key characteristics for every species • Full glossary and guide to leaf forms included "Trees of Panama and Costa Rica includes superb color photos, abundant color distribution maps, and concise descriptions of key characteristics, making this guide readily accessible to botanists, biologists, and casual nature lovers alike."---Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "Replete with plentiful photographs as well as helpful textual descriptions and distribution maps, not to mention a superb introductory section explaining the essentials of the biology of tropical trees, Trees of Panama and Costa Rica is a book that should be in the backpack or field bag of anyone undertaking any manner of nature-oriented trip into the countryside of either of these two nations." "There are many floras that professional botanists can use to identify tropical trees, but few quality field guides for laypersons. The current work is a concise, user-friendly field guide in the tradition of the popular Peterson and Audubon guides. . . . This is a valuable addition to the limited popular literature on tropical botany." "This is a wonderful book for visitors to the region who want to try to know the trees that grow there. It is also a major, important work for biologists ecologists, and students working in these two beautiful countries."---Dan Kunkle, Wildlife Activist "Quite rightly, the publisher claims there is no other book like this one. It well merits a long life in the hands of nature lovers of all stripes."---Neil A. Harriman, Plant Science Bulletin "This is an impressive tour-de-force of tropical plant identification. The lively writing is accessible to nonspecialists, while the broad taxonomic coverage and authoritative species descriptions make this guide useful to professional botanists."-Brad Boyle, University of Arizona "This book is exceptionally well organized and extremely user friendly, and the text is really good and succinct. The authors convey the excitement of learning tropical botany to successfully identify tree species, and the section on tree identification is exceptional-quite simply the best that I have ever read. This book fills a huge need and does so very well."-John Kricher, Wheaton College

Dennis Paulson's books include Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West and Shorebirds of North America (both Princeton). Now retired, he was director of the Slater Museum of Natural History at the University of Puget Sound. The definitive single-volume fully illustrated guide This is the first fully illustrated guide to all 336 dragonfly and damselfly species of eastern North America-from the rivers of Manitoba to the Florida cypress swamps-and the companion volume to Dennis Paulson's acclaimed field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of the West. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East features hundreds of color photos that depict all the species found in the region, detailed line drawings to aid in-hand identification, and a color distribution map for every species-and the book's compact size and user-friendly design make it the only guide you need in the field. Species accounts describe key identification features, distribution, flight season, similar species, habitat, and natural history. Paulson's authoritative introduction offers a primer on dragonfly biology and identification, and also includes tips on how to study and photograph these stunningly beautiful insects. • Illustrates all 336 eastern species • Features hundreds of full-color photos • Includes detailed species accounts, line drawings to aid identification, and a color distribution map for every species • Offers helpful tips for the dragonfly enthusiast "I truly believe that if there is such a thing as the 'must-have' book, Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East is IT. . . . It contains all 336 species of Odonata that have been found in eastern North America. Not just dragons or just damsels, [but] all Odonata. That means ONE book for everything. It has excellent full-color photographs that are large enough to see many of coloration and patterns that are important. . . . The species accounts are well-done with reference to similar species when appropriate. The natural history summaries for genera are very good, and valuable information for any ode enthusiast."---Mark O'Brien, Michigan Odonotes "This is a beautiful book, a joy to hold and to look at. Although it is a paperback, it is printed on sturdy glossy paper that will hold up well in the field. . . . [I] recommend it as an essential field guide to the dragonflies."---Devorah Bennu, GrrlScientist "This is an excellent landmark field guide that belongs in every naturalist's collection."---Donna Schulman, 10,000 Birds "[A] terrific volume that will be very popular among odonate enthusiasts in the East." "[T]hese volumes are obviously authoritative, comprehensive and clearly designed with the needs of the naturalist in mind. The photographs are excellent and . . . the text makes up for the unavoidable shortcomings of a photo-guide by including full descriptions of each species. Altogether, these two volumes constitute a complete, highly informative and beautifully illustrated guide to the Odonata of North America."---Guy Padfield, UKbutterflies "Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East is by far the most complete treatment of its kind. It is chock-full of interesting and useful information, and the illustrations are excellent. Paulson is one of the top experts in this field and his book reflects that extensive knowledge on every page."-Giff Beaton, author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast "Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East is superbly organized, concisely written, and beautifully illustrated. It combines the strengths of a field guide with the invaluable technical information of a manual. As such, the reader will have a strong tool in his or her possession. There really is no other book like it."-Allen E. Barlow, senior author of Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey

Fernando Cornejo is research associate and field research botanist at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. John Janovec is research botanist and founding director of the Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. Seeds of Amazonian Plants is the first field guide to treat the extraordinary diversity of seeds and diaspores of plants commonly encountered in the Amazon and other lowland moist forests of the American tropics. This stunningly illustrated guide features an easy-to-use whole-plant approach to seed identification that provides detailed descriptions not only of the seeds but also of the habit, trunk, bark, leaves, infructescence, and fruit of Amazonian plants, as well as information about the known uses and distribution of each genus. Presenting these descriptions together with 750 full-color photos and a unique identification key, this premier field guide enables users to identify seeds of 544 genera and 131 families of plants. • The most comprehensive field guide to Amazonian seeds • Features 750 full-color photos that make identification easy • Covers 544 genera and 131 families of Amazonian plants • Describes seeds, habit, trunk, bark, leaves, infructescence, and fruit • Includes unique seed identification key • Compact, portable, and beautifully illustrated--the ideal field guide "Some look like brains, some like arrowheads, others like beads, propellers or puffs of cotton. Seeds have evolved many of these striking features to help them propagate in the wild. . . . [Seeds of Amazonian Plants] will help scientists understand how forests regenerate, how plants disperse, and how the varied species of this tropical region evolve together as a single ecosystem."---Anna Kuchment, Scientific American "This stunningly illustrated guide features an easy-to-use whole-plant approach to seed identification that provides detailed descriptions not only of the seeds but also of the habit, trunk, bark, leaves, infructescence, and fruit of Amazonian plants. . . . The most comprehensive field guide to Amazonian seeds."---Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "Cornejo and Janovec devoted more than 20 years conducting research in the Peruvian Amazon to produce this book, an excellent guide to the seeds of some 544 genera representing 131 families. . . . The comprehensiveness of this guide will provide tropical biologists and informed laypersons a valuable field reference for Amazonian seeds, as well as a way to easily identify them to genus level." "'Wonderful' and 'most helpful' are the two terms with which I can describe this book in the shortest possible ways. . . . [H]ighly recommend this book to Neotropical primatologists. Seeds of Amazonian Plants will make ecological field work on New World monkeys a bit easier."---Eckhard W. Heymann, Neotropical Primates "The field guide Seeds of Amazonian Plants is a breakthrough for anybody who needs to identify to genus level the seeds of hundreds of common plants in the Amazon region. It will be of enormous use for many people working on conservation, natural regeneration, seed dispersal or propagation of native species, such as botanists, ecologists, zoologists and foresters. There is no other book available with this purpose, and the stunning full-colour photographs will be appreciated by any nature enthusiast."---Isolde D. K. Ferraz, Annals of Botany "[A] remarkable effort--with 750 photos of 544 genera and 131 families, it is going to save an awful lot of zoologists (including primatologists) an awful lot of plant-related heartache and uncertainly. Botanists too will almost certainly breathe a sigh of relief that their animal-oriented colleagues might now leave them alone a bit more and stop asking for help with identifications."---Adrian Barnett, Primate Eye "Cornejo and Janovec present with their field guide, Seeds of Amazonian Plants, a unique, easy to use, and exceptionally well-illustrate

José R. Castelló is a medical doctor with a particular interest in zoology and biology. He is a member of the American Society of Mammalogists and the Spanish Society for Conservation and Study of Mammals. He lives in Madrid. The most comprehensive guide to the bovids of the world Bovids are a diverse group of ruminant mammals that have hooves and unbranched hollow horns. Bovids of the World is the first comprehensive field guide to cover all 279 bovid species, including antelopes, gazelles, cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats. From the hartebeest of Africa and the takin of Asia to the muskox of North America, bovids are among the world's most spectacular animals and this stunningly illustrated and easy-to-use field guide is an ideal way to learn more about them. The guide covers all species and subspecies of bovids described to date. It features more than 300 superb full-color plates depicting every kind of bovid, as well as detailed facing-page species accounts that describe key identification features, horn morphology, distribution, subspeciation, habitat, and conservation status in the wild. This book also shows where to observe each species and includes helpful distribution maps. Suitable for anyone with an interest in natural history, Bovids of the World is a remarkable and attractive reference, showcasing the range and beauty of these important mammals. • The first comprehensive field guide to all 279 bovid species • 337 full-color plates, with more than 1,500 photographs • Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, distribution, subspeciation, habitat, behavior, reproduction, and conservation status • Fully updated and revised taxonomy, with common and scientific names • Easy-to-read distribution maps "I often wonder why there hasn't been any really good books dealing with the antelopes, wild cattle, sheep, gazelles and goats of the world. Well I guess I need wonder no more. With the publication of Castello's new book, I have found a resource that will be invaluable as I travel in search of wildlife. . . . As with other Princeton guides, the layout is eye-pleasing and the text factual, informative and inclusive. Ranges, habitats, descriptions, subspecies and behaviour are covered for every species." "This volume provides excellent introductory information about hundreds of animals; it will serve a wide range of readers seeking a basic understanding of this subject; high school students, college students, and interested adults will benefit from its content. Libraries working with these populations should consider adding this reasonably priced volume."---Mark Schumacher, American Reference Books Annual "With this title, new ground has been broken in several ways. Visually, Castelló, a medical doctor, has replaced traditional artists' renderings with photos from global photographers. This is also the first field guide to reflect the revised species list, which recently doubled the number of bovid species from 143 to 279. . . . Castelló fills a void, and this book should generate wide interest in scientists, students, and general reader. . . . This volume may inspire a new generation of conservationists and raise awareness of beautiful, endangered bovids and their perilous situations." "Bovids of the World offers a compelling and beautiful introduction to one of the world's most diverse and important families of creatures with hair. . . . Few books have done more to remind me than Bovids of the World that I've only just scratched the surface of what the planet has to show me."---Ed Kanze, Bedford (NY) Record-Review "This is a handy reference to what I consider the coolest taxonomic family on earth: the bovids. . . . Sit down with it and enjoy these fascinating creatures."---Matt Miller, Cool Green Science "I am confident that Bovids of the World is a valuable addition to any wildlife biologist's library. Those with and without close familiarity to the family Bovidae wil

Fully illustrated, easy to use, and completely up-to-date, Birds of the West Indies is the only field guide that covers all of the bird species known to occur in the region--including migrants and infrequently occurring forms. Each species is represented by a full description that includes identification field marks, status and range, habitat, and voice. A map showing the bird's distribution accompanies many species accounts, and plumages of all species are depicted in ninety-three beautifully rendered color plates. Bird lovers, vacationing tourists, local residents, and "armchair travelers" will all want to own this definitive field guide to the birds of the West Indies. • Includes all species recorded in the region • Features ninety-three color plates with concise text on facing pages for quick reference and easy identification • Species accounts cover identification, voice, status and habitat, and range • Color distribution maps

Thomas S. Schulenberg is a research associate at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Douglas F. Stotz is an ornithologist and conservation ecologist at the Field Museum in Chicago. Daniel F. Lane and John P. O'Neill are illustrators and field ornithologists, and both are research associates at the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science. Lane also leads Field Guides birding tours. Theodore A. Parker III, who worked throughout Peru before his death in 1993, was the premier neotropical field ornithologist of his time. The best guide to the birds of Peru-now in a revised paperback edition Birds of Peru is the most complete and authoritative field guide to this diverse, neotropical landscape. It features every one of Peru's 1,817 bird species and shows the distinct plumages of each in 307 superb, high-quality color plates. Concise descriptions and color distribution maps are located opposite the plates, making this book much easier to use in the field than standard neotropical field guides. This fully revised paperback edition includes twenty-five additional species. • A comprehensive guide to all 1,817 species found in Peru-one fifth of the world's birds--with subspecies, sexes, age classes, and morphs fully illustrated • Designed especially for field use, with vivid descriptive information and helpful identification tips opposite color plates • Detailed species accounts, including a full-color distribution map • Includes 25 additional species not covered in the first edition • Features 3 entirely new plates and more than 25 additional illustrations "A major accomplishment" "[T]he guide against which all others for the New World tropics will be judged."---Don Stap, Audubon "Rarely in the history of tropical ornithology have so many waited so long and so eagerly for a field guide to appear. . . . The end result of this long process is a spectacular addition to the literature on South American birds. The plates are superb, the guide is easy to use in the field, the range maps are informative and accurate, and the text is concise while still including essential information."---Scott K. Robinson, Auk "Part of the excellent Princeton University Press field guide series, the book describes and illustrates 1,817 species of birds to be found in Peru. It's concise (at 664 pages!), well-designed, and worth a look (just take it off the store shelf and page through it) because it demonstrates the extraordinary variety of the bird world."---Jim Williams, Minnesota Star Tribune "Be assured that when I make my journey to Peru this summer . . . that I will be toting a copy of Birds of Peru at all times." "[A] worthy successor to the original edition. . . . The plates are amazingly thorough, again considering the extent of the task involved in covering more than 1,800 species. Each facing page has a species account and map. The text for each species is limited to about one-sixth of the page, and the maps are small, but these features make this 664-page volume a real 'use-in-the-field' book. It's quite an accomplishment. Highly recommended for anyone venturing to this part of the world--how will they top this?" "Birds of Peru will be a great addition to any birder's library. You never know if buying this field guide is the gentle nudge that you need to purchase a plane ticket to Lima. I hope someday that my copy is battered and stained from an epic birding trip to Peru."---Radd Icenoggle, Radleyice blog "Birds of Peru provides a complete and awesome guide to identify Peruvian birds." "This is definitely a book I want to put to good use someday when I hopefully get to travel to Peru to see some of these birds. This guide is also highly recommended . . . for its great illustrations, range maps and easy to use layout."---Drew and Alex Lamoreaux, Nemesis Bird

Bruce M. Beehler is a research associate of the Division of Birds at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and a naturalist with interests in birds and forests. Thane K. Pratt is a research associate at the B. P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii and a bird conservationist with a focus on the tropical Pacific. Pratt and Beehler are the coauthors of the field guide Birds of New Guinea, Second Edition (Princeton). New Guinea, the largest tropical island, supports a spectacular bird fauna characterized by cassowaries, megapodes, pigeons, parrots, kingfishers, and owlet-nightjars, as well as the iconic birds of paradise and bowerbirds. Of the nearly 800 species of birds recorded from New Guinea, more than 350 are found nowhere else on Earth. This comprehensive annotated checklist of distribution, taxonomy, and systematics of the birds of New Guinea is the first formal review of this avifauna since Ernst Mayr's Checklist, published in 1941. This new book brings together all the systematic, taxonomic, and distributional research conducted on the region's bird families over the last 70 years. Bruce Beehler and Thane Pratt provide the scientific foundation for the names, geographic distributions, and systematic arrangement of New Guinea's bird fauna. All technical information is annotated and a geographic gazetteer and bibliography are included. This book is an ideal complement to the Birds of New Guinea field guide also published by Princeton, and is an essential technical reference for all scientific libraries, ornithologists, and those interested in bird classification. • The first complete revision of the New Guinea bird fauna since 1941 • Accounts for 75 bird species new to the region • Includes a geographic gazetteer, bibliography, and explanations of taxonomic and systematic classifications "This is an outstanding book for professionals and advanced amateurs interested in New Guinea birds." "This work is a positive goldmine and no-one with a serious interest in the birds of New Guinea should be without it. Those . . . yet to visit will surely revel in such a magnificent introduction to the region, with the extensive bibliography and gazetteer alone being substantial navigational aids. . . . An exceptional guide even for those better initiated than myself. Bruce Beehler, Thane Pratt and the book's technical editor, Mary LeCroy, have done the ornithological world proud, yet again."---Guy M. Kirwan, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club "All around, this is a solid field guide/handbook and one that does justice to the series."---Mike Toms, British Trust for Ornithology "This extraordinary and long-awaited work combines deep authority and scholarship with the authors' extensive field experience and museum expertise. The book increases our knowledge of New Guinea's obscure avifauna and offers a superior modern perspective."-Frank B. Gill, author of Ornithology "This is an essential reference for anyone interested in the birds of New Guinea, natural resource policy, and conservation practices."-Christopher Filardi, American Museum of Natural History

Andrew Henderson is a curator at the Institute of Systematic Botany at the New York Botanical Garden. His books include Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas and Flowering Plants of the Neotropics (both Princeton). Southern Asia is a vast and ecologically diverse region that extends from the deserts of Afghanistan to the rainforests of Thailand, and is home to a marvelously rich palm flora. Palms of Southern Asia is the only complete field guide to the 43 genera and 352 species of palms and rattans that occur in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. This attractive guide's handsome illustrations and succinct, authoritative, and jargon-free text make identification easy. Each species account includes the correct scientific and common names, and fully describes morphology, habitat, and uses. Featuring a distribution map for most species and 256 full-color photographs, this is also the only field guide to cover the extremely diverse palm flora of Vietnam, and the first to offer a taxonomic overview of the rattan species of Southern Asia. Palms of Southern Asia is a book of major importance for botanists and an invaluable aid for naturalists and conservationists, and it's the perfect field guide for ecotourists traveling in the region. • Covers all 352 naturally occurring palms in Southern Asia • Features full-color photographs of 256 species, many never before illustrated • Includes a distribution map for most species • Provides the first taxonomic overview of the rattans of Southern Asia "This field guide by Henderson includes all 352 naturally occurring palm species in the region ranging from Afghanistan to Japan, south through India and Thailand. . . . The book is well organized and designed, and certainly small enough for fieldwork." "This is truly a field guide with descriptions that give field characters that will make it easy to identify species. . . . This is a guide that is obviously based on extensive field work by the author and is user friendly. A most useful addition for anyone interested in palms."---Ghillean Prance, Biologist "The Palms of Southern Asia is going to be an extremely useful book that will earn Henderson immense respect and gratitude in the region and throughout the botanical community."---William J. Baker, Kew Bulletin "This is a very well-organized field guide. It is clear in its presentation of the facts and the language is without unnecessary complications. The science behind this popular presentation is very sound. The descriptions in general are very concise."-Henrik Balslev, University of Aarhus, Denmark

Ronald A. Russo is a retired California naturalist. His books include Field Guide to Plant Galls of California and Other Western States and Hawaiian Reefs. A photographic guide to 536 species of plant galls found west of the Rockies Beautiful and bizarre, plant galls are growths of various shapes, sizes, and colors produced in response to invading organisms. Describing 536 species of galls and their causative agents, Plant Galls of the Western United States explores this unique realm with stunning photos and fascinating information about the life cycles of the organisms involved. Often species-specific, plant galls can be shaped like stars, baskets, clubs, wigs, bowls, and cups, with colors and combinations that stagger the imagination. This richly illustrated field guide examines how galls develop, and their uses, seasonal appearance and growth rate, predators, and defense mechanisms. The "architects" of galls-bacteria, fungi, mites, moths, beetles, flies, midges, and wasps-are explored in depth, and descriptions are paired with illustrations of these gall-inducing organisms and their typical galls. Gall accounts are divided into those that occur on trees, shrubs, and miscellaneous hosts, including native and ornamental plants. The guide contains a useful glossary and a bibliography. • Features 536 gall species-including 120 new to science and 232 that have never appeared in a field guide before • Examines for the first time more than 90 species from southwestern oak trees • Contains more than 150 species from most of the deserts of the western states "For those who have already discovered the wonders of plant galls, no reason needs to be given for why this book should pique your interest. For those who haven't yet added the observation and study of these fascinating, multi-form protrusions, I highly recommend giving the activity consideration, as learning about them is a superb way to expand your understanding of botany, mycology, and entomology all at the same time."---Johannes Riutta, The Well-read Naturalist "The author is to be congratulated . . . [The book makes] identification that much easier and the guide should appeal to a wide range of enthusiasts and lead to a surge in recording."---John Badmin, British Journal of Entomology and Natural History

A spectacularly illustrated field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of California California is home to more than 200 species of reptiles and amphibians that can be found in an extraordinary array of habitats, from coastal temperate rainforests with giant redwoods to southeastern deserts offering dazzling wildflower displays each spring. California Amphibians and Reptiles covers every species and subspecies in this biodiverse region of the United States, with outstanding color photography and in-depth species accounts that draw on the latest findings on taxonomy and distribution. Setting a new standard for regional field guides, this state-of-the-art guide will serve as the definitive reference for California's amphibian and reptile fauna for many years to come. • Covers all 209 species of amphibians and reptiles found in California • Features hundreds of stunning photos that illustrate geographic and within-species variation as well as differences among males, females, and young • Includes first-ever color images and species accounts for newly discovered species • Shows every species and subspecies in full color on a white background • Depicts all amphibian larvae in breathtaking color • Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, similar species, habitat, range and elevation, activity and behavior, diet, reproduction, and conservation • Provides updated status of all threatened, endangered, nonnative, and special concern species • Accurate range maps reflect contemporary and, where applicable, historical distributions in light of significant habitat loss across the state • An invaluable resource for amateur naturalists, resource managers, and professional herpetologists Robert W. Hansen is an affiliated researcher with the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, and served as editor of the Herpetological Review from 1991 to 2021. Jackson D. Shedd is a scientific illustrator, herpetologist, wildlife photographer, and independent researcher. He is a departmental associate with the San Diego Natural History Museum. "California Amphibians and Reptiles sets a new, exceptionally high bar for natural history guides. California encompasses spectacularly different landscapes, ranging from coastal dunes to alpine meadows, and is inhabited by more than 200 species of frogs and toads, salamanders, turtles and tortoises, lizards, and snakes. With this scholarly and well-designed volume, readers can confidently identify and learn about these animals. An amazing book!"-Harry W. Greene, author of Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature and Tracks and Shadows: Field Biology as Art "This is unequivocally the most in-depth and comprehensive work on California's amphibian and reptile diversity that has ever been produced. The full-color photographs and illustrations invite any budding herpetologist to become captivated by this group of fascinating animals while biologists, grad students, and field workers will appreciate the up-to-date species accounts with current conservation concerns."-John Muir Laws, author of The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada "A comprehensive field guide to California reptiles and amphibians has been sorely needed by students and naturalists for a very long time, and it is finally here! Hansen and Shedd's collective knowledge about these animals is unparalleled, and it shines through on every page."-Emily Taylor, California Polytechnic State University "I can't remember when I've seen a better field guide. The pages truly reflect a lifetime of work by Hansen and Shedd. Not only are the photographs glorious and informative, but here we see color variations by region, descriptions of California's wide-ranging habitats, and the threats they face. For anyone who cares about all creatures great and small, this monumental book is a must."-Joel Sartore, founder and photographer, N