Incluye bibliografía: páginas 461-488 e índice: páginas 489-500

Glosario: páginas 451-460

Preface.. Introduction.. How to Use This Book.. Organization of the Species Accounts.. The Environment of the Yucatán Peninsula.. Physiography.. Climate.. Vegetation.. Habitats of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Yucatán Peninsula.. Coastal Habitats.. Agricultural Habitats.. Freshwater Habitats.. Forest Habitats.. Savanna Habitats.. Composition of the Herpetofauna.. A Brief History of Herpetology in the Yucatán Peninsula.. Pre-Linnaean Contributions.. Linnaeus and the Eighteenth Century.. European Dominance.. The Emergence of Herpetology in North America.. The Twentieth Century.. Contemporary Herpetology in the Yucatán Peninsula.. Prospects for Future Research.. Summary and Conclusions.. Class Amphibia (Amphibians.. Key to the Orders of Amphibia.. Clave para los Ordenes de Anfibios.. Order Gymnophiona (Caecilians.. Family Caeciliaidae.. Key to the Genera of Caeciliaids Known or Presumed to Occur in the Yucatán Peninsula.. Clave Para los Géneros de Gymnophiona Conocidos o de Probable Ocurrencia en la Península de Yucatán.. Order Caudata (Salamanders.. Family Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders.. Key to the Genera of the Family Plethodontidae.. Clave para los Géneros de Caudata de la Familia Plethodontidae.. Oder Anura (Frogs and Toads.. Key to the Families of Anura.. Clave para las Familias de Anura.. Tadpoles.. Key to the Tadpoles.. Clave para las Renacuajos.. Family Rhinophrynidae.. Family Leptodactylidae.. Key to the Genera of the Family Leptodactylidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Leptodactylidae.. Family Bufonidae (True Toads.. Family Hylidae (Treefrogs.. Key to the Genera of the Family Hylidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Hylidae.. Family Centrolenidae (Glass Frogs.. Family Microhylidae.. Key to the Genera of the Family Microhylidae..

Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Microhylidae.. Family Ranidae (True Frogs.. Class Reptilia (Reptiles.. Key to the Orders of Reptilia.. Clave para los Ordenes de Reptilia.. Order Crocodylia (Crocodilians.. Family Crocodylidae (Crocodiles, Dwarf Crocodiles, False Gharial.. Order Testudines (Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins.. Key to the Families of Turles.. Clave para las Familias de Tortugas.. Family Cheloniidae (Hard-shelled Sea Turtles.. Key to the Genera of the Family Cheloniidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Cheloniidae.. Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle.. Family Dermatemydidae (Central American River Turtle.. Family Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles.. Family Kinosternidae (Mud and Musk Turtles.. Key to the Genera of the Family Kinosternidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Kinosternidae.. Family Emydidae (Pond Turtles.. Key to the Genera of the Family Emydidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Emydidae.. Order Squamata (Lizards and Snakes.. Suborder Sauria (Lizards.. Key to the Families of Lizards.. Clave para las Familias de Lagartijas.. Family Eublepharidae.. Family Gekkonidae (Geckos.. Key to the Genera of the Family Gekkonidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Gekkonidae.. Family Corytophanidae.. Key to the Genera of the Family Corytophanidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Corytophanidae.. Family Iguanidae.. Key to the Genera of the Family Iguanidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Iguanidae.. Family Phrynosomatidae.. Family Polychrotidae.. Family Scincidae (Skinks.. Key to the Genera of the Family Scincidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Scincidae.. Family Gymnophthalmidae.. Family Teiidae.. Key to the Genera of the Family Teiidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Teiidae.. Family Xantusiidae (Night Lizards.. Family Anguidae.. Suborder Serpentes (Snakes.. Key to the Families of Snakes

Clave para las Familias de Serpientes.. Family Typhlopidae (Blindsnakes.. Family Leptotyhlopidae (Slender Blindsnakes.. Family Boidae (Boas.. Family Colubridae.. Key to the Genera of the Family Colubridae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Colubridae.. Family Elapidae (Coral Snakes, Cobras, and Their Allies.. Family Viperidae (Vipers and Pitvipers.. Key to the Genera of the Family Viperidae.. Clave para los Géneros de la Familia Viperidae.. Ethnoherpetology in the Yucatán Peninsula.. Amphibians and Reptiles in the Secular Life of the Maya.. Amphibians and Reptiles in Maya Religion and Mythology.. Epilogue.. Gazetteer.. Glossary.. Literature Cited.. Subject Index.. Taxonomic Index.. The color figures follow pages 20 and 436

Deforestation now threatens the magnificent ecosystem of the Yucatan Peninsula - an area including northern Guatemala, Belize, and southeastern Mexico. This splendidly illustrated book by the world's leading authority on Yucatan herpetology documents the natural history of all native and introduced species of reptiles and amphibians and provides a guide to identifying them. The only comprehensive treatment available, it will be the definitive resource for amateur naturalists as well as professionals with an interest in this rapidly changing biogeographical region. Julian C. Lee begins with a description of the environment and habitats of the Yucatan Peninsula, followed by a history of the herpetological research there. He then describes 182 species of frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles, detailing the features that characterize each species and distinguish it from similar species. Lee completes the book with an unusual chapter on the ethnoherpetology of the region - the significance of amphibians and reptiles in the culture of both ancient and contemporary Maya. An extensive bibliography, a glossary, and a gazetteer help make his research accessible to everyone interested in the wildlife of the Yucatan. Inglés