U.s. Guide To Venomous Snakes And Their Mimics

by Scott Shupe

Stoeger's U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics is a quick and reliable guide to identifying the small percentage of snakes that pose a real threat to man. This carefully researched volume contains detailed information on the natural history of each species and subspecies region by region. Detailed full-color photographs provide a completely accurate representation of both venomous snakes and harmless non-venomous species that closely resemble their toxic relatives. U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and their Mimics clearly explains the use of scientific names and provides clear and accurate range maps, plus a useful glossary of herpetological terms. No matter what your outdoor activity -- hunter, angler, backpacker, gardener, etc. - you will find this concise, easy to use volume an invaluable addition to your library.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Thebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, despite its wonderful organization, lacks good descriptions on how mimics can be distinguished from their mimics from a distance. With the exception of coral snakes, most of Shupe's tips on distinguishing the two species ends with "note the round pupils and lack of facial 'pit'." In the field, as Shupe also notes, it is difficult to see if a snake has a pit or the shape of pupils. The book does provide a basic knowledge of the venomous snakes in different U.S. regions, but it could benefit from describing how to identify mimics from venomous species by scale pattern and color.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 3 out of 5]

You may be aware that I have been trying unsuccessfully for the past several years to conduct some sort of an experiment - any sort of an experiment - before I completely disappear from the planet like some of my honoured relatives. The Chinese people told me that I am from the year of the snake, so I have been reading all I can about snakes with my cats... ^_^ They tend to arrange themselves to either side of the monitor these days!

The Year of the Snake is 1989, which is when I was born, which is why I read these books, but it comes back some other times. Whatever is 12 years from that, and 24, and 36, and 48, et cetera ad infinitum. (I'm not actually a mathematician, per se, I'm Claire-chan. I'm a linguist. I read books and interpret them.) But it is also some other arbitrary numeric values... 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, 1905.

So I found value in this manuscript, as it is, even if it's an abnormality in my GR continuum! Usually I I finish books and write reviews of them, but this one I'm "leaving on the shelf."

I have been copyediting this edition, but the work has been going slowly because my current pair of glasses has been giving me more headaches than proving to be helpful. This problem has more and more difficult for the past three months.

I wish I could see. It would make reading easier.

[Caleb Block · Rating 4 out of 5]

It contains a view of not only various snake species, but also subspecies, and it provides a good quick read for reptile-lovers (like me), and outdoors-men.