Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes: Herpetologists' Tales from the Field

by Martha L. Crump (Editor)

Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes reveals the thrills and travails that herpetologists experience when working with amphibians and reptiles in the wild. With essays from fifty field biologists, this volume, edited by Martha L. Crump, presents a multifaceted yet intimate look at life in pursuit of knowledge about the natural world. From the beaches of Peru to the mountains of China, the stories in this collection place readers in the boots of field biologists as they watch, count, experiment, and survey. Some recall mishaps and misadventures―contending with leeches, dangling off a precipice while in a truck. Others tell of once-in-a-lifetime encounters―discovering a new frog species, spotting a rare snake. Together, these stories offer an understanding of what field biology is, what field biologists do, and how they go about doing it. Written with candor, warmth, and a dash of humor, the stories in Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes will encourage readers to appreciate the value of engaging with nature and of the amphibians and reptiles so critical to the vitality of our planet.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2024

Reviews

[Tony A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book to read to my son, who loves frogs and toads. It is not written for children, but it does not pretend to be, and I am not judging it on that basis.

I rate it low because, while I have no doubt as to the expertise and enthusiasm of the herpetologists involved, no one bothered to query whether any of them could write anything other than a lab report, or perhaps a blog post, or perhaps some combination thereof. These are not essays that I would accept from any of my writing students, and the ability to communicate to a lay audience should be considered when constructing a book such as this one. You don't need to be John McPhee, or Annie Dillard, but these avid frogologists are just awful writers.

The best audience? Very keen high school science students who may also have an interest in herpetology. I can imagine they would gain a lot from reading about field research, and easily overlook the strangled prose. In that case, I am all for it. Four stars!

But this is not enough for a professional collection.

I wish them all well. And my son may one day be in that category, and then it will all have been worth it.

[Skylar Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

the captain🥺