This book is one of the best of any recent state summary of the herpetofauna, and a benchmark reference for anyone having an interest in Louisiana's amphibians and reptiles. In the only detailed and comprehensive study ever published on Louisiana's widely varied herpetofauna, Harold A. Dundee and Douglas A. Rossman describe 130 species and their feeding, behavioral, and reproductive habits. They give a brief history of the state's herpetology, offer useful information on collecting and preserving specimens, emphasize the need for conservation, and analyze the zoogeography of the herpetofauna. Eugene C. Beckham's exquisitely rendered color paintings highlight each species' significant structural features and markings.
Distribution maps show the known localities of each species within the state.
Harold A. Dundee is emeritus professor of biology and curator of amphibians and reptiles at Tulane University. Douglas A. Rossman is adjunct professor of zoology at Louisiana State University and curator of reptiles at the LSU Museum of Natural Science. Eugene C. Beckham was formerly a senior research biologist at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.