The Lives of Snakes: A Natural History of the World's Snakes

by Chris Mattison

A richly illustrated introduction to the marvelous world of snakes

Descended from prehistoric lizards, snakes have been slithering across the earth for more than a hundred million years. There are some 4,100 species known to exist, and many are venomous, but many more are not. Snakes experience the world in unique ways, smelling the air with their tongues and relying on signs of movement for orientation. They are ectothermic, needing external heat for energy, and must shed their skin to grow. This guide offers a unique look at the lives of snakes, exploring their life cycles, diets, defenses, locomotive strategies, and more. Written by an internationally recognized herpetologist and informed by the latest science, The Lives of Snakes blends captivating photos with engaging, fact-filled profiles of selected species to provide an invaluable introduction to these splendid reptiles.


Combines beautiful illustrations, clear graphics, and lively text to inform and entertainFeatures dozens of representative species profilesCovers topics ranging from evolution and diversity to habitats and reproductionExamines how snakes coexist with humansDiscusses threats to the world’s snake populations and their conservationA must for snake lovers everywhere

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 18, 2025

Reviews

[Turtleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, The Lives of Snakes is a beautiful book, artfully designed and filled with photographs that range from very good to amazing. While not a coffee table book, this is still a book that one can flip through and enjoy the photos and short species accounts. Each chapter consists of a variety of topics. Most are two-page spreads, but a few are longer. Each topic has the title in large font, a single paragraph in bold, a few other paragraphs in regular print, and a few photos to illustrate the topic. For example, in the chapter dealing with the environment some of the topics include temperature and water balance, thermoregulation, and snakes in deserts. These topics are usually just a basic introduction given there is not much room in a two-page spread with photos taking up almost half the space. The species accounts are a highlight of the book. Each species account is also a two-page spread, with one entire page consisting of a photo of the snake.

I have a few minor critiques of the book. The book has almost nothing on hibernation/brumation aside from a brief mention that in some areas snakes may be “inactive during the winter” (p. 90). In many parts of the world, including Canada, the winter environment can limit the range of species and affect survival of individual snakes. A section on over-wintering conditions and the stresses this places on snakes should have been included. Occasionally, the author makes a broad statement that is not always correct: “Lizards occur everywhere that snakes do” (p. 167). Such a statement is true in many places but it is certainly not true in Canada. There are no native lizard species east of Ontario, but native snakes occur in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Despite these minor issues, this book is still recommended for any naturalist interested in snakes.