Crocodiles & Alligators Of The World

by David Alderton

Perceived for too long as predatory killers, crocodilians face their gravest danger--extinction--with little human help and sympathy. As this volume proves, alligators and crocodiles can be extremely fascinating. Examine this creature's anatomy to see why it makes such a fine its almost fully submerged body remains nearly invisible, its slit eyes help it see in the dark and judge distance precisely, and its tough skin protects it against the salt water. Many societies viewed crocodiles with awe because of their power and size, and even made them a part of their folklore and religion. Information on origins, evolution and distribution, courtship, reproduction, and many individual species paint a thorough portrait. Maps of their habitats, disappearing swiftly because of environmental damage, trace their presence worldwide, and excellent color photos bring these sometimes scary reptiles up close and personal. Blandford 192 pages, 40 color illus., 80 b/w illus., 6 x 9.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

About the author

David Alderton is a UK-based writer specialising in pets and natural history topics. Growing up in a home surrounded by pets, he originally trained to become a veterinary surgeon. An allergic dermatitis acquired in his final year of study forced a change of career however, and so led him into the field of writing about pets and their care. He has since become a regular contributor of articles on this subject to a wide range of newspapers and magazines in the UK and abroad, and also participates frequently in radio and television programmes.

His books have currently sold over six million copies, and have been translated into 30 different languages. David’s titles have won awards in the USA from the Cat Writers' Association of America and the Maxwell Medallion from the Dog Writers’ Association of America, as well as being nominated for the Sir Peter Kent Conservation Book Prize. He has also chaired the National Council for Aviculture, the umbrella organisation for bird-keeping clubs and associations in the UK, and is a member of the Kennel Club, as well as editor of the monthly magazine Practical Reptile Keeping.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that goes into such great detail about crocodiles and also alligators. This book is full of information about how these reptiles can be very fascinating. This book is meant for an older audience, and the tone in this book is more informative. There are photographs in this book, which children would find to be very cool. Realistic pictures rather than illustrations are better in nonfiction books. The reason for that is because the reader can get a better idea of what a crocodile looks like, and possibly learn how to tell the difference between a crocodile and an alligator. The information in this book is very reliable and perfect for educational purposes. I gave this book such a high rating because I found it to be very informative and as a teacher, I could do fun activities with this book. I could do things such as a chart where the kids tell me the characteristics of crocodiles. I also just really enjoyed the photographs in this book. I would not like it if there were illustrations,