Synopsis:
From tiny to gigantic, from drab to remarkably beautiful, from harmless to venomous, lizards are spectacular products of natural selection. This book, lavishly illustrated with color photographs, is the first comprehensive reference on lizards around the world. Accessible, scientifically up-to-date, and written with contagious enthusiasm for the subject, Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity covers species evolution, diversity, ecology, and biology. Eric R. Pianka and Laurie J. Vitt have studied and photographed members of almost all lizard families worldwide, and they bring to the book a deep knowledge based on extensive firsthand experience with the animals in their natural habitats.
Part One explores lizard lifestyles, answering such questions as why lizards are active when they are, why they behave as they do, how they avoid predators, why they eat what they eat, and how they reproduce and socialize. In Part Two the authors take us on a fascinating tour of the world's manifold lizard species, beginning with iguanians, an evolutionary group that includes some of the most bizarre lizards, the true chameleons of Africa and Madagascar. We also meet the glass lizard, able to break its tail into many highly motile pieces to distract a predator from its body; lizards that can run across water; and limbless lizards, such as snakes. Part Three gives an unprecedented global view of evolutionary trends that have shaped present-day lizard communities and considers the impact of humans on their future.
A definitive resource containing many entertaining anecdotes, this magnificent book opens a new window to the natural world and the evolution of life on earth.
From the Inside Flap:
"This book is the first to provide a comprehensive introduction to the diversity of lizards and their major adaptive features. The scope and mastery of the material are truly impressive. The authors discuss the latest research findings in readily accessible terms and provide sweeping new hypotheses about lizard diversity that will generate much discussion and research among lizard specialists, community ecologists, and evolutionary biologists. This book should reach a wide audience and will undoubtedly stimulate the interest of future biologists. I wish I had had it when I was a teenager!" William E. Cooper, Indiana University Purdue University
"It was a treat to read this book. Together Pianka and Vitt form an unbeatable team of lizard experts. Vitt has extensive experience in South America and tropical forests, as well as southwestern U.S. deserts, whereas Pianka has specialized in deserts of Australia, southern Africa, and North America. They have spent a lot of time in the field studying lizards, and this is apparent in the text. I especially enjoyed the personal vignettes, which add to the liveliness of the book. This is a wonderful synthesis and a great addition to the herpetological literature." David B. Wake, University of California, Berkeley
"No one knows lizards better than Pianka and Vitt. These master naturalists and master ecologists have combined forces to provide a scholarly yet accessible and personal overview on the biology of a fascinating group of organisms. If you like lizards, you must read this book. If you don’t like lizards but still have an open mind, you really should read this book. If you’re not sure whether you like lizards, you definitely should read this book." Raymond B. Huey, University of Washington
"This book provides an excellent overview of the staggering diversity of lizards, highlighting not only the intrinsically fascinating traits of these reptiles but also their appropriateness as models for evolutionary and ecological studies. The authors’ thorough treatment of lizard biology is engagingly presented and is enhanced by personal insights derived from decades of fieldwork in the deserts and rain forests of the world." Aaron M. Bauer, Villanova University
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