Books with author Chris Mattison

A comprehensive, best-selling guide to more than 3,000 snake species for fans of snakes, snake owners, and students — now in an updated second edition produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution.Get to know more than 3,000 snakes from around the world, from the familiar, massive Green Anaconda to the deadly Tropical Rattlesnake, the Reticulated Python, Red-Spitting Cobra, Puff Adder, Gaboon Viper, and more. Learn about the lesser-known dainty Leopard Snake, whose bright markings trick predators — and often humans — into thinking it is a deadly viper.Snake uses gorgeous, full-color photographs of 60 snakes to showcase what makes these reptiles so extraordinary, and includes more than 450 illustrations and detailed close-up photographs that show the snakes in action.Herpetology expert and wildlife photographer Chris Mattison accompanies each profile with fascinating snake facts and trivia on the snake's physical and behavioral characteristics, information about habitats, reproductive behavior, feeding, defense, and more. Plus, the updated, easy-to-reference Snake Directory lists every snake species within the 18 snake families, including little-known and rarely sighted species.Snake is a beautiful and comprehensive guide to some of nature's more compelling animals.

Comprehensive, up-to-date, and richly illustrated with some 200 color photographs, The New Encyclopedia of Snakes is the best single-volume reference on snakes. A thorough revision of the highly successful Encyclopedia of Snakes, Chris Mattison's new book is the only one of its kind to deal in detail with snakes from around the world. Addressing the natural history of snakes and their relationship with each other and with other groups of animals, the book incorporates new information on snake biology and classification and includes a complete list of every family and genus, with notes on each. Throughout, photographs show the fascinating variety of snake coloration and camouflage, and illustrate and clarify the many topics covered. Organized thematically, the book addresses the origin and evolution of snakes; their morphology and function; how and where they live; their methods of feeding, defense, and reproduction; their taxonomy and classification; and their interaction with humans. The New Encyclopedia of Snakes is the ideal reference for anyone interested in snakes--whether they come across them in the wild, go looking for them, keep them captive, or are simply fascinated by them. A comprehensive, up-to-date, and richly illustrated reference Text enhanced by some 200 color photographs of snakes from all over the world Easy-to-read fact boxes about topics of special interest

A comprehensive, best-selling guide to more than 3,000 snake species for fans of snakes, snake owners, and students — now in an updated second edition produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution.Get to know more than 3,000 snakes from around the world, from the familiar, massive Green Anaconda to the deadly Tropical Rattlesnake, the Reticulated Python, Red-Spitting Cobra, Puff Adder, Gaboon Viper, and more. Learn about the lesser-known dainty Leopard Snake, whose bright markings trick predators — and often humans — into thinking it is a deadly viper.Snake uses gorgeous, full-color photographs of 60 snakes to showcase what makes these reptiles so extraordinary, and includes more than 450 illustrations and detailed close-up photographs that show the snakes in action.Herpetology expert and wildlife photographer Chris Mattison accompanies each profile with fascinating snake facts and trivia on the snake's physical and behavioral characteristics, information about habitats, reproductive behavior, feeding, defense, and more. Plus, the updated, easy-to-reference Snake Directory lists every snake species within the 18 snake families, including little-known and rarely sighted species.Snake is a beautiful and comprehensive guide to some of nature's more compelling animals.

Human interest in lizards is not new. These reptiles have been the subject of superstition and speculation for thousands of years, and their remarkably diverse forms, colors, and behavior continue to fascinate us today. We know comparatively little aboutlizards, however, and the data produced by increasing scientific study is often impenetrable or inaccessible to the interested general reader. Written as an introduction to the natural history of lizards, this book helps to answer the many questions thatboth amateur and professional naturalists ask about these animals. The first seven chapters cover the origins, form, function and color, environment, feeding, defense, reproduction, movement, and distribution of lizards -- from tiny tropical geckos to the huge Komodo dragon. The author also discusses lizards in captivity and their relationship to humans and describes the entire range of the lizard families. The book concludes with a chapter on the curious group of burrowing "worm lizards," the amphisbaenians. The highly readable and informative text is beautifully illustrated with line drawings and superb black-and-white color photographs of the spectacularly varied lizard families.

With flattened bodies, opposed feet, independently swivelling eyes, a prehensile tail, and the ability to change colour to match their background, chameleons are both fascinating and charismatic. Chameleons is the first popular guide to this extraordinary animal group. This fully illustrated book begins by exploring chameleon evolution and classification, describing how they fit into life's evolutionary tree and revealing their close relations. It discusses the variations in size, shape, colour and markings among the 173 species and explains why chameleons look like they do. There follows chapters on reproduction and development, food and feeding, habitat and distribution as well as how chameleons defend themselves against predators. The final chapter examines the relationship between chameleons and humans, from their occurrence in mythology and superstition to worldwide conservation work and keeping chameleons as pets. Drawing on their vast experience, the authors provide an illuminating insight into the lives of these unusual animals, their natural habitats and their care and breeding in captivity.

Reptiles have been the subjects of superstition and speculation for thousands of years, and their remarkably diverse forms, colors, and behavior continue to fascinate human beings today. Filling the need for an accessible overview of what is known about these intriguing creatures, Lizards of the World presents a wealth of information in a readable and interesting format. Written as an introduction to the natural history of lizards, this book helps to answer the many questions that both amateur and professional naturalists ask about these animals. It examines the origins, form, function, color, environment, feeding, defense, reproduction, movement, and distribution of lizards, from the tiny, tropical geckos to the huge Komodo dragon. The author also discusses lizards in captivity and their relationship with humans, and describes the entire range of the lizard families. Beautifully illustrated with superb black-and-white and full-color photographs, as well as with crisp line illustrations, this valuable resource clearly presents the spectacularly varied lizard families.