A Good Book.
Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, 2018.
ISBN 978-3-930612-99-4
Hardback
144pp.
Format A4 (297 x 210mm.)
$80
But it is the pictorial section that forms by
far the major portion of this work, and this
is the part that will be of most interest to
anyone with an interest in Australian
turtles - including keepers and hobbyists.
This comprises a comprehensive photo-
graphic record of each species and its
habitat, together with distribution maps
and other data. For example, there are 25
images (each with details of size and
location) and four maps concerned with
Chelodina longicollis alone, and a total of
400 throughout the book. This part of the
book is beautifully presented, with
substantial contributions from leading
herpetological photographers including
John Cann, Adam Elliott, Gunther
Schmida, Gerald Kuchling, Steve
Wilson and Mark O’Shea, amongst others.
The photographs are also accompanied by
a series of symbols, which denote a range
of data including size, sex, habitat type,
diet and periods of dormancy, as well as
parameters of value to those wishing to
keep each species in captivity, such as
terrarium size, water level, temperature,
suitability for outdoor enclosures, group
TERRALOG: Turtles of the World Volume 5 dynamics and level of difficulty. In this way, extensive
Australia and Oceania.
additional information is quickly imparted without the
need for large passages of text. My only criticism is that it
Holger Vetter,
took me a while to figure out that the legend for these
This is the final volume in this series, and is heralded as ‘a symbols was located at the very back of the book.
unique reference for everyone - from the hobbyist to the
scientist’ and a ‘fascinating photographic overview of the It is the quality and breadth of the outstanding images,
together with the excellent maps and accompanying
amazing diversity of Australian and Oceania turtles’.
symbols, that distinguish this publication, making it a very
useful tool for field identification, as well as a unique,
It is dedicated to the chelonians of Australasia, New
informative, quick visual reference for anyone interested
Guinea and the Pacific, and commences with a contents
in keeping native Australian turtles.
section that also includes details of all the species,
including notes on distribution and IUCN Red List status.
This is followed by an informative introduction, which is Reviewed by John McGrath.
concerned chiefly with taxonomy, and succinctly explains
the best accepted current nomenclature, and a list of
Herp Books has a limited number of
references.
copies signed by the author!