Anyone can look at a snake and see a creature unique unto itself, a reptile with a set of zoological and biological traits that are entirely its own. Just looking at this distinct animal raises many scientific questions. With regard to evolution, how did such an animal come to be? How does a snake move, and how do its sense organs differ from that of other reptiles? How does it eat, and how does it reproduce? Essentially, how does a snake "work"? In How Snakes Work: The Structure, Function and Behavior of the World's Snakes, leading zoologist Harvey B. Lillywhite has written the definitive scientific guide to the functional biology of snakes. Written for both herpetologists and a more general audience with an interest in the field, How Snakes Work features nearly two hundred color images of various species of snakes, used to provide visual examples of biological features explained in the text.
Chapter topics include the evolutionary history of the snake, feeding, locomotion, the structure and function of skin, circulation and respiration, sense organs, sound production, temperature and thermoregulation, and reproduction. Containing all the latest research and advances in our biological knowledge of the snake, How Snakes Work is an indispensable asset to professional zoologists and enthusiasts alike.
Industry Reviews
"I think this is a terrific book for readers with a variety of knowledge levels...perhrhaps the reason [the author] is so successfulâand why this is such a terrific bookâis because the author is an insider, a professional research scientist who has studied how snakes work for his entire career...I like the encouraging, upbeat style of writing that gets the reader excited about the topics." -- Brian I. Crother, Amphibian & Reptile
Conservation
"Original and pleasant, filling a vacuum, this book is to recommend in all the libraries. We learned a great deal and our admiration for the serpents and their perfection increases with the reading of each of its chapters." Ivan Ineich, Bulletin de la Societe Herpetologique de France
"This book brings together a lifetime of experience, to explain in easy-to-understand terms what snakes do, and how and why they do it. I am sure that this attractive volume not only will educate people about snakes, but also will inspire its readers and help them to understand why we need to conserve these amazing creatures for future generations." --Rick Shine, University of Sydney
"Of the many books on snakes for a general readership, this one is unique in its focus on the physiological ecology of these fascinating creatures. The author's extensive experiences in the field and laboratory shine through, as he offers insights into how snakes function in their natural environment. For anyone wondering how snakes breathe, swim, perceive their prey, or pump their blood, this book has the answers, while posing important questions that have
yet to be studied. Detailed information fills every page, interspersed with compelling photos and tales from the author's many encounters with serpents in the wild." --Alan H. Savitzky, Utah State
University, Logan
"This expertly written book combines the authority of a thoroughly researched scientific treatise, with the illustrative quality and popular appeal of a coffee-table book. It is an informative and pleasurable read." --1. Harold Heatwole, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
"How Snakes Work will fascinate anyone interested in nature's innovations. ...a valuable scholarly reference for anyone interested in understanding snakes -- not just biologists but engineers, roboticists, and simply anyone with an active scientific curiosity." --Scientists' Nightstand, American Scientist
"There is a particular satisfaction in reading a well-crafted, richly detailed scientific textbook written by an expert with an obvious passion for his or her subject--a person who has clearly spent a lifetime immersed in an arcane field, and has the fortuitous ability to draw others in with skillful prose. Harvey B. Lillywhite has produced an exemplar of such a volume. ... This book is not only ideal as an aid to scientists already working in the field,
perfect for keeping abreast of recent findings, but is also well suited for interested general readers, amateur enthusiasts, or beginning students. ... It is the perfect balance of accessible and
informative: the ideal book to rapidly draw an outsider into the wonderful world of snakes." --The Quarterly Review of Biology
