What is a Classic? An Address Delivered before the Virgil Society on the 16th of October 1944

Amphibians and reptiles thrive in New Mexico's many landscapes and the extremes of its temperatures and moisture. In all, the state has 123 species, an assemblage of 3 salamanders, 23 frogs and toads, 10 turtles, 41 lizards, and 46 snakes. In this comprehensive guide each species is presented in a color photograph and its distribution shown on a map. Technical art supplements identification keys, and line art complements family descriptions. For each species, the following information is type, distribution, description, similar species, systematics, habitat, behavior, reproduction, food habits, and references. The detailed descriptions add immeasurably to knowledge about the region's herpetofauna, which will aid students, herpetologists, and resource managers. The book is also of great benefit to non-specialists, including casual hikers, since the authors write in accessible language that makes for easy identification of species.