Most of the islands of the Caribbean have long histories of herpetological exploration and discovery, and even longer histories of human-mediated environmental degradation. Collectively, they constitute a major biodiversity hotspot – a region rich in endemic species that are threatened with extinction. This two-volume series documents the existing status of herpetofaunas (including sea turtles) of the Caribbean, and highlights conservation needs and efforts. Previous contributions to West Indian herpetology have focused on taxonomy, ecology and evolution, particularly of lizards. This series provides a unique and timely review of the status and conservation of all groups of amphibians and reptiles in the region. This volume provides regional accounts of the islands of the West Indies biogeographic region: Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; The Bahamas; Barbados; The British Virgin Islands; The Cayman Islands; The Commonwealth of Dominica; The Dominican Republic; The Dutch Windward Islands of St. Eustatius, Saba and St. Maarten; The French West Indies; Grenada; The Grenadines; Jamaica; Martinique; Puerto Rico; St. Vincent; The Turks and Caicos Islands; The United States Virgin Islands. Each account discusses the conservation problems of the herpetofauna and their solutions, in a region made up of islands of diverse ecology and political systems. The book will be useful to biologists and conservationists working in or visiting the Caribbean, and internationally as a summary of the current situation in the region.

In a region that is exceptionally rich in endemic birds, seabirds, waterbirds, and species already at risk of extinction, Important Bird Areas are an objective expression of which places in the Caribbean are the most important for these birds and why. This work focuses on a Caribbean network of Internationally important biodiversity sites - IBAs.

Discover the unique wildlife of the island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten with vivid color photos and fascinating descriptions of its mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. This guide includes commonly-seen species, animals that are found only on this island, and many strange and unusual creatures that are seldom spotted anywhere. Based on over three years of fieldwork, this entertaining book combines scientific, cultural and historical research to tell the story of the fauna of St. Martin, and their relationship with the island and its people. This revised and expanded second edition includes over 500 color photographs, and special sections about the diverse habitats on the island, island ecology, and the history of biological research on Saint Martin. It is the perfect introduction to the island's wildlife for people of all ages who are curious about the natural world around them.

The limestone region of PR covers about 27% of the island1s surface and has karst features. The karst belt (KB), that part of the northern limestone with the most spectacular karst landforms, covering 65% of the northern limestone, is the focus here. Chapters: geography; features: geomorphological, hydrological, and ecological diversity; nat1l. resources; econ. importance: water, other minerals, ag., forestry, and environ. disturbances; history of intensive use; vulnerable to human activity: cutting vs. paved over forests, draining vs. filling wetlands, conversion vs. trans1n. of land uses, pumping vs. overdrafting aquifers, contaminating vs. poisoning ground water, and surface water pollution; and proposal for transferring KB to the public domain. Color photos.

The first, definitive reference on the natural history and ecology of every one of the known 6500+ species of lizards, spanning the entire globe. Our planet is literally crawling with lizards. More than 6500 species are known to science, and new species are being discovered annually. In this monumental work, eminent researcher Gordon Rodda has created the first compilation of the natural histories of all the world's lizards and amphisbaenians, as well as the Tuatara. Although other books have attempted to survey the scope of adaptations present in the world's lizards, only Rodda has been able to quantify and summarize all species or higher taxa. Analyzing the relationships among traits such as morphologic characteristics, reproductive strategies, and food sources, Rodda uncovers novel insights into reptile ecology. Identifying 14 recurring character syndromes across all the world's lizards, he proposes a new lens for categorization. He also touches on • common names • geographic range • length • mass • age • maturation • differences between the sexes • nominal variables, including diel activity cycle and foraging mode • home range • predator avoidance tactics • thermal biology • social spacing • climate envelope • habitat and microhabitat • reproduction • parental care • diet • population density • conservation status • ecological business models Rodda's alphabetical taxon accounts provide an instantly retrievable sketch of every species, genus, and family. Outlining more than 1500 statistically significant associations extracted from a data matrix composed of more than 300 conditions tabulated—to the extent known—for all 6528 species of lizards, Lizards of the World will be the go-to source for the next generation of reptile ecologists, as well as herpetology students and serious herpetoculturists.