Frogs and Toads of the World Hardcover – Illustrated, May 22, 2011

Comprehensive

I bought this for my 6 year old grandson, he loves it

excellent fun great pix enjoying this book

I love a book such as this one. I like to know some scientific things, biological. Not too deep, but enough to clue me in the goings-on of a species. I like to know names of parts to a degree. Even though it may be challenging to pronounce them. I like to know the complexity of species and how they fit in ecologically. How they interact with each other and other animals.Knowing these things gives me better appreciation for them when I see them. When I see an animal after reading about them, I see beyond the outside. I am currently reading a book on crabs. It follows the same line of context as this one on frogs. I learn SO much.That’s what this book on frogs is, a book you can learn from. And enjoy the beautiful pictures.

I am one of those that have had a fascination with amphibians and reptiles since I was a very small child. The first poem I wrote, or made up, was about lizards. I was about four years old. It read:There were five lizards on a wall.One fell down,And that is all.Anyway, you might refer to me as a frog or snake geek, a title I proudly acknowledge. I have been reading about, collecting, photographing and studying these wonderful creatures for almost seven decades now. Of all the general works I have read throughout the years, the book being reviewed here stands toward the top of the list when it comes to readability, informative and visually delightful. Quite a task the author and photographer has taken on here. I note that the product description here states that there are nearly 6,000 known species of frogs and toads in the world and this is true although the true number is unknown an I quite likely over 6,000 as I write this. And that is one of the problems. We are finding and identifying new species each year but at the same time species are becoming completely extinct at even a faster pace. More about that later....Now be sure that you note that this book IS NOT a field guide by any means. No, it is a work which compiles data, facts and observations on numerous species but in general is an overall overview. The book is broken down into the following chapters:Origins and ClassificationSize and Shape, colour and markingsInteractions with the physical environmentEnemies and deferenceFood and FeedingReproductionLife-cyclesHabitat and DistributionFrogs and manAnd...The families which is a 54 page section which describes the characteristics of the 49 families of frongs.There are plenty of color and black and white photographs in this work - over 200 and all extremely well done.The text is quite readable and one does not need an advanced degree in biology or zoology to understand precisely what the author has to say. I realize this will not be the case for everyone, but to be honest, for me this one is a page turner!If you have an interest in these strange and wonderful creatures, then this is a book you want on your shelf. If you have no interest you might want to read it anyway...hey, this is the sort of book that is capable of striking a spark you may not be aware of.End of Review:And now the rant:As of about three years ago at least 1,626 species of frogs and toads were on the endangered list. This number has increased. Each year we loose via extinction several species of these creatures. Amphibians are one of the creatures that we use as gages to evaluate the health of our environment. Folks, we are in big trouble! I know from personal observation here in the Missouri Ozarks that frogs have been on a steep decline for at least three or four decades now. I recently did a night wade of several streams that I use to wade as a youth. Were as in those past years I could spot and identify over 100 frogs in a half mile stretch of stream back in the 1950s, I encountered only five or six frogs over those same stretches. The large bull frogs which were so prevalent in the past have almost vanished and those that are found are pathetic specimens compared to those found only a few years ago. We are in trouble my friends and we need to take close note!Don BlankenshipThe Ozarks

A delightful book, with excellent diagrams and illustrations.

This book covers almost every aspect of anuran biology. Chapters include physiology, defence, food and feeding, reproduction, life-histories, distribution and families of frogs. Huge amount of colour and black and white photographs that aid in the comprehension of the topics being discussed. Informative yet a breeze to read. Highly Recommended!

Great.