The best Reptile Zoology books: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

When I took Herpetology in college, we all had to buy a Peterson's Guide for lab. That's where I started. Next, I check this sub multiple times a day and try to ID the snakes.

A couple of possibilities: Mean and Lowly Things, by Kate Jackson, summary here: https://www.amazon.com/Mean-Lowly-Things-Science-Survival/dp/0674048423 This one is set in the Congo, but does mention army ants in the summary. Snakebit, Confessions of a Herpetologist, by Leslie Anthony. Summary here: https://www.amazon.com/Snakebit-Confessions-Herpetologist-Leslie-Anthony/dp/1553655273

If you're interested in mating behavior, read Vladmir Dinet's book Dragon Songs. Hands-down the best description of crocodilian mating behavior and what it looks like you'll ever see.

There are some good field guides that cover your area, and these are better and more efficient to help you learn your local species. You should pick up this one; you can find one used in good condition on eBay or Amazon for $12-

Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, 4th Edition

You could also try the older, 3rd Edition Expanded, which is going for $9 used on Amazon. It's behind the times in terms of taxonomy, but it has more pictures, and it also includes more information about many species lifestyles and habits, which might be useful to a young student of the game such as yourself.

Books should not move or have eyes. If it wiggles on its own stay away!

I would recommend

https://www.amazon.com/Snake-Essential-Visual-Chris-Mattison/dp/1465443797/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=snake+book&qid=1611861207&sr=8-3

And to write a book skin the snake and then shake some ink in it like a wiggly maraca, bury it under a Starbucks sign and dig it up on the third day to find a book

!resources

I grew up with this lol. Super basic stuff and maybe a bit dated but I always enjoyed looking through it. Might be a good primer for more in-depth books.

Snake head shape is also a bad idea. Most snakes will flatten their head when threatened or preparing to strike. Think of what cobras can do, but not so extreme. This is to puff up and look more threatening. This isn't 100% universal, but a common behavior.

Yes your rattle snakes of the family Crotalidae/Viperidae do have very prominent head shape, but the rattling is such a better way to pick them out. Contrasting, the coral snake, Micrurus tener, has a very round head, looks very similar to milk snakes, however their neurotoxin venom will kill you.

EDIT: Best advice I have is to just pick a field guide of your region and read it. (https://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Reptiles-Amphibians-Eastern-Central/dp/0544129970) Other then that, just let the sneks be sneks and slither away!

I'll just copy and paste what I responded to earlier in the comment thread. Too lazy to type.

"Snake head shape is also a bad idea. Most snakes will flatten their head when threatened or preparing to strike. Think of what cobras can do, but not so extreme. This is to puff up and look more threatening. This isn't 100% universal, but a common behavior.

Yes your rattle snakes of the family Crotalidae/Viperidae do have very prominent head shape, but the rattling is such a better way to pick them out. Contrasting, the coral snake, Micrurus tener, has a very round head, looks very similar to milk snakes, however their neurotoxin venom will kill you.

EDIT: Best advice I have is to just pick a field guide of your region and read it. (https://www.amazon.com/Peterson-Reptiles-Amphibians-Eastern-Central/dp/0544129970) Other then that, just let the sneks be sneks and slither away!"

If you've never taken care of reptiles before, one thing to keep in mind is that there is no definitive way to get it right, and what one person tells you is the way to go, another person will tell you you're an idiot that's doing it all wrong and torturing your pet. We don't have them down to a science like we do cats and dogs. BUT, with enough help you can make an educated guess on the best way to care for them.

The main thing is get a decent size tank, sand substrate, and a proper heat lamp. You can buy a timer for cheap that will turn the lamp on and off for you at the appropriate times too. They like vegetables, crickets, and meal worms. CrThey're desert animals, so their heat lamp is gonna be a hot one, and they stay small for years before they start getting iguana sized, so they're fine with smaller amounts of food.

This is all off the top of my head from when I owned 2 years ago though, so don't take it as definitive.

I bought this book back in the day to help me out

And as with everything on reddit, there's a subreddit for it

https://www.reddit.com/r/Uromastyx/

They've got care sheets in their sidebar, and while the sub isn't the most active, I would assume all of the moderators own uros and could answer any questions you have if you message them.

Vladimir Dinets, a zoologist who had some really cool research on crocodilians and realized that basically, they're smart as fuck and have waaay more complex behavior than the scientific community had previously realized. He wrote a book about it, called Dragon Songs and it's very fascinating.

I'd suggest Year of the Turtle. When I think naturalist, that's the first book that springs to mind.

For something rather unusual, good for summer reading, try After Man

This is probably not what you're looking for, but Phillippe de Vosjoli's "Art of Keeping Snakes" is a nice reference book for captive-keepers using bioactive or naturalistic environments.

I would suggest joining COPARC (Colorado Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) on FB. COPARC has events where a bunch of herpers all get together and go out to find some reptiles and amphibians. Another thing I would suggest is checking out Smetlogik on youtube, he does videos on field herping many of which are based out of Colorado(not many on specific locals or anything though) . If you do decide to join COPARC you could post and ask for some help herping Colorado and I'm sure there would be some people happy to help!

On a last side note I would suggest getting a Colorado field guide for reptiles and amphibians. I personally think that Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado, Revised Edition Paperback – November 1, 1999 by Geoffrey A. Hammerson is the best version. http://www.amazon.com/Amphibians-Reptiles-Colorado-Revised-Edition/dp/0870815342

As far as my personally advice, in the city garters can be found around ponds or streams on warm days basking, as for the rest you have to leave Denver proper to really get to much.