Turtles: An Extraordinary Natural History 245 Million Years in the Making

Turtles are a species of reptile at its evolutionary zenith, with an ancient lineage stretching back over 200 million years. Under their unmistakable shells, testament to their survival, they harbor a natural history of epochal proportions. This is the engrossing story Turtles tells. The book offers a full account of the evolution, history, diversity, ecology, and behavior of the turtle, and of the problems facing these reptiles worldwide. The book describes the important role turtles play in their ecosystems, as well as the pressures put upon current populations by habitat destruction, over-collection for the pet trade, and increasing consumption for food. Accompanying Franklins text are photographs and illustrations testifying to the colorful diversity of the 300 species of turtle known to inhabit forest, mountains, prairies, rivers, lakes, and oceans of the world--70 within the United States alone. Appendices provide contact information for turtle organizations, as well as a listing of all extant chelonians.

About the Author :
Author and herpetologist Carl J. Franklin is the curator of the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center at the University of Texas at Arlington. His writings on turtles and other herpetological subjects have appeared in both popular and technical publications. A boundless enthusiast, Carl spends an inordinate amount of time in the field collecting specimens from the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. He lives in Grand Prairie, Texas, with his wife, son, dogs, and turtles. Author and herpetologist Carl J. Franklin is the curator of the Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center at the University of Texas at Arlington. His writings on turtles and other herpetological subjects have appeared in both popular and technical publications. A boundless enthusiast, Carl spends an inordinate amount of time in the field collecting specimens from the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. He lives in Grand Prairie, Texas, with his wife, son, dogs, and turtles.

Review :
Booklist, September 2007 "Herpetologist Franklin has written a good introduction to the order Testudines ... part 1 of the text presents the basics of turtle biology; part 2 is the real strength of the book, examining the diversity of the modern chelonians family by family. A nice supplement for reports, particularly researching individual species."