Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

Salamanders of the Old World by Max Sparreboom

Methos5K

Active member
Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Messages
176
Reaction score
34
Location
Twin Cities, MN
I received this title for Christmas and wanted to do a quick write up. Truly a tome of knowledge of all Salamander species in the Old World. The original book published in French, Robert Thorn's classic 1968 text, "Les Salamandres" was considered the standard. Behold the new authoritative, definitive book on the subject. Europe, Middle-east, Africa and Asia are all covered.

At 430 pages, this book is huge. Richly illustrated with all color photographs of each species and subspecies (both sexes); as well as habitats, breeding/courting behavior and detailed maps of the geographical range of each salamander. Animals with complex mating/courtship rituals have detailed step-by-step drawings/photos of the whole sequence. Amazing stuff.

Each species contains the following entries:
1) Description (complete physical information
2) Diagnosis (information on how to differentiate between similar species)
3) Eggs and larvae (descriptions)
4) Distribution ( geographical range)
5) Habitat (detailed information on their natural environment)
6) Behavior (species-specific general information)
7) Threats and conservation (very specific information about environmental threats, as well as legal legislation/conservation laws, i.e. protected in home country)
8) Observations in captivity (Difficulty in keeping and breeding)
9) Comments (Yes, even more information, of topics ranging from taxonomy to university/zoological notes)
10) References (individual sources of published/referenced material

The entire volume is cross-referenced to just about every single article/journal/book published in every language in the known universe. It retails for $160 US, but it is of the utmost quality. Thick, durable binding with quality paper. It is now the crown jewel of my always expanding salamander library.

Now can we get a companion volume for the New World? Please? ;)



ISBN-13: 978-9050114851
ISBN-10: 9050114857






 
Last edited:

philj

New member
Joined
Aug 4, 2015
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
If you are looking for something comparable to this book for new world salamanders, salamanders of the united states and canada by james petranka is an excellent book :)

Sent from my D2305 using Tapatalk
 

Methos5K

Active member
Joined
Jan 15, 2014
Messages
176
Reaction score
34
Location
Twin Cities, MN
If you are looking for something comparable to this book for new world salamanders, salamanders of the united states and canada by james petranka is an excellent book :)

Sent from my D2305 using Tapatalk

Picked that up. I love it. Now can you recommend a book covering central and south american salamanders? I'm finding precious little, mostly scientific reports in pdf formats in university websites.
 

philj

New member
Joined
Aug 4, 2015
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
I know exactly what you are talking about. in terms of books covering just south/central american caudates i havent seen anything, just papers. Ive had my eye on amphibians of central america by Gunther Kohler. Ive read some good reviews but as the title says its all amphibians and not just caudates (dont know whether thats a problem for you or not). If you do get it let me know how it is! Other than that theres a several captive care books which cover a few bolitoglossa species...





Sent from my D2305 using Tapatalk
 

FrogEyes

Active member
Joined
Sep 5, 2010
Messages
908
Reaction score
41
Location
Southern Minnesota
There's a new book on amphibians and reptiles of the border states of Mexico and USA, with chapters on each state. I haven't yet bought it, but a number of bolitoglossines and Ambystoma, plus a couple other rarely-reported salamanders occur in those Mexican states.
 

caleb

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2002
Messages
509
Reaction score
14
Location
NE England
Ive had my eye on amphibians of central america by Gunther Kohler. Ive read some good reviews but as the title says its all amphibians and not just caudates (dont know whether thats a problem for you or not). If you do get it let me know how it is!

I was slightly disappointed that Kohler's book doesn't include all of Mexico- it covers Panama to the far south-east of Mexico. If you want a sneaky preview, there is a (poorly scanned) pdf version you might be able to find.
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Top