Amphibians and reptiles of the US-Mexico border states = : Anfibios y reptiles de los estados de la frontera Mexico-Estados Unidos /

Lemos-Espinal (National Autonomous Univ. of Mexico) has edited a superb book on the 600-plus species of amphibians and reptiles found within the four US and six Mexican states adjacent to the US-Mexican border. The editor and 15 herpetologists contributed the 13 English and 13 corresponding Spanish chapters following the combined language contents and acknowledgments. The two versions are separated by 78 pages containing 600 excellent color photos representing the species discussed. Chapter 1 outlines the organization and use of subsequent chapters, and Chapter 2 details nomenclatural and distributional notes. Chapters 3-12 summarize the herpetofauna knowledge of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas in Mexico and California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the US. Coverage for each state involves summaries of distributional, physiographic, and technical publication information on amphibian and reptilian species. Chapter 13 in both language versions compares the topography, species, species richness, and other herpetofaunal relationships of the ten states. Content is current, accurate, and essential for developing an understanding of border herpetofauna. The narrative is often technical and designed for specialists but is mostly easy to read and comprehend with only limited familiarity with biological terminology. Includes English and Spanish checklists of border state amphibians and reptiles. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic, professional, and general library collections, especially in border states. --Edmund D. Keiser, University of Mississippi