Amphibians and reptiles

Trevor Beebee’s interest in amphibians was triggered, at age 11, by a chance visit to a pond near his home on the outskirts of Manchester. Two years later he moved to Surrey and encountered reptiles on the surrounding heath; so the scene was set of a lifetime of fascination with all the British species. Trevor subsequently obtained a degree in Biological Sciences at The University of East Anglia, followed by a PhD in biochemistry at the University of Sussex, before taking up a lectureship at Sussex and in 2003 becoming professor of molecular ecology there. Over the years he pursued a combined interest in research and conservation, mostly concerning amphibians (especially natterjack toads) but also with some work on reptiles. In the latter period Trevor became especially concerned about genetic aspects of conservation and the risks of population isolation and inbreeding depression. He has published over 150 scientific papers, more than 30 articles and several books on amphibians and reptiles including The Natterjack Toad, Frogs and Toads, Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians and, with Richard Griffiths, the most recent New Naturalist volume (Amphibians and Reptiles) on these intriguing animals. He has a longstanding connection (since 1960) with the British Herpetological Society and served at various times as editor of its scientific journal, its chairman and its president. Trevor has been a trustee of the charity Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (previously called the Herpetological Conservation Trust) since its inception in 1989 and was awarded the Peter Scott Memorial Award by the British Naturalists' Association in 2009 for contributions to amphibian conservation. He retired to live in Somerset in 2012.

This is a comprehensive guide to both native and non-native species of amphibians and reptiles found in the British Isles. It is number 31 in the well-respected Naturalists’ Handbook series which includes titles such as Common Ground Beetles and Insects on Dock Plants. In the introduction, Trevor Beebee points out that amphibians did not always have the degree of interest they have now with naturalist Carl Linnaeus declaring a “profound dislike of them” and Gilbert White gave “scant attention” to them!After the introduction is a chapter on basic biology including skin, feeding, respiration, and reproduction. This is followed by a detailed account of the ecology of amphibians and reptiles and a section about conservation. The next two chapters are probably the most useful to people especially if they are interested in studying in more detail or surveying species such as the protected great crested newt or the more elusive wall lizard, with sections on both daylight and night-time searches (using powerful torches) and live trapping.For adventurous teachers keen to encourage real science chapter 7 shows how schools can help to further the knowledge of these creatures. It includes three types of investigations: the first involves studying whether pupils have amphibians or reptiles living in around their own gardens, secondly investigating the school grounds or local nature reserves and finally a section about lab based studies. These investigations give the pupils the “chance to see wild animals and experience the excitement of completely new discoveries based on the simplest of scientific methods”.Like most of the Naturalists’ Handbooks there is a species identification section covering the seven amphibian and six terrestrial reptiles native to Britain. This section has seven identification keys including adult and immature newts, newt eggs and larvae and adult and hatching limbed lizards. This is a very useful part of the book including extensive keys to aid identification and a selection of pictures that are very clear and include larva and spawn of some species. There are also 20 maps showing distributions. Like lots of groups of species, there is a problem with introduced and escapee specimens which has become more prevalent and this guide includes identification of these species including the midwife toad and Italian great crested newt. The final chapter considers some general aspects of working with amphibians and reptiles including the legal niceties and handling.At the end of the book is a section on useful addresses and links (including where you can buy food for captive amphibians and reptiles!), two pages of references cited in the text and a four page index. Throughout the text is a glossary found in the margin of the book alongside where the word occurs. Colour photographs, graphs, maps, tables and diagrams are all very clear.Trevor Beebee was professor of molecular ecology at the University of Sussex combining an interest in research and conservation. He has published over 150 scientific papers, more than 30 articles and several books on amphibians and reptiles. Beebee was awarded the Peter Scott Memorial Award by the British Naturalists’ Association in 2009 for contributions to amphibian conservation.This Naturalists’ Handbook is very easy to read, encouraging those people interested in this aspect of natural history to be able to identify species and make a contribution to citizen science should they want to.

• 1 Introduction 2 Basic biology 3 Ecology and Conservation 4 Surveying and monitoring 5 Working with amphibians 6 Working with reptiles 7 How schools can help 8 Identifying species found in Britain Key I Adult and immature newts Key II Newt eggs, larvae and metamorphs Key III Frogs and toads (adults and metamorphs) Key IV Frog and toad spawn Key V Frog and toad larvae Key V Adult and hatchling limbed lizards Key VI Adult snakes Distribution maps 9 Working with amphibians and reptiles: some basic essentials 10 Useful addresses and links References Index