The Amphibians of Tennessee

Book excerpt: Brimming with color photographs and reflecting the latest scientific research, this book is the definitive guide to the rich diversity of frogs and salamanders found throughout Tennessee. Featuring detailed accounts of all eighty of the state's species of amphibians, it will delight and inform the professional scientist and amateur naturalist alike. The species accounts form the core of the book. Each account includes the scientific and common name of the species (with etymology of the scientific name); information on size, physical appearance, and coloration of adults, juveniles, and larvae; an up-to-date GIS range map showing both county records and potential ranges; and details on similar species, habitat, natural history, conservation status, and more. High-quality photographs illustrate the life stages of the various species. Among the book's other valuable features are detailed drawings and taxonomic keys to assist with identification, as well as introductory chapters that encompass amphibian biology and conservation and the geology and habitats of Tennessee. Sprinkled throughout the book are lively personal accounts, called “Field Notes,” which describe successful amphibian hunts. The only complete work of its kind for the Volunteer State and generously supported by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, The Amphibians of Tennessee fills a long-standing need for both a popular identification guide and an authoritative reference.