North American Watersnakes: A Natural History (Animal Natural History Series, V. 8)

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Summary: Review from The Nature Pages
Review: This impressive reference covers much of what is currently known about the natural history of the genera Nerodia, Regina and Seminatrix in North America -- collectively referred to as "watersnakes" because of their common habitat. It does not include semiaquatic snakes found near or in water that are not dependent on wetland habitat for food and protection.

Range maps down to the county level are provided for each species covered in the text, including sources of distribution records. The cumulative range for the three genera includes 38 U.S. states, one Candian province, Cuba and 11 Mexican states.

Drawn from their own studies and nearly 1,800 references, authors J. Whitfield Gibbons and Michael E. Dorcas cover every aspect of watersnake natural history, from evolution and fossil records to reproduction, predation, captive maintenance and conservation efforts. They also discuss research questions, hypotheses and opportunities associated with each species.

Gibbons is a professor of Ecology at the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Lab and author of Their Blood Runs Cold: Adventures With Reptiles and Amphibians. Dorcas is an associate professor of biology at Davidson College in North Carolina.