Table of Contents
I. WHAT ARE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES?
1. Herpetology as a Field of Study.
The Diversity of Amphibians and Reptiles. Shared Characters of
Amphibians and Reptiles. Amphibians and Reptiles in Terrestrial
Ecosystems. Development of Herpetology as a Field of Study. The
Future of Amphibians and Reptiles. Summary.
2. The Place of
Amphibians and Reptiles in Vertebrate Evolution.
Phylogenetic Systematics. The Transition from fishes to Tetrapods.
The Ecological Transition in Tetrapod Origins. Monophyly of
Lissamphibia. Two Hypotheses for Relations between Lissamphibians
and Paleozoic Amphibians. Paedomorphosis in Lissamphibian
Evolution. Relationships among Extant Orders of Lissamphibia. The
Radiation of Amniotes. Summary.
3. Systematics and Diversity of
Extant Amphibians.
Salamanders (Urodela or Caudata). Systematics and Phylogeny of
Salamanders. Caecilians (Gymnophiona). Systematics and Phylogeny of
Caecilians. Frogs (Anura). Systematics and Phylogeny of Frogs.
Summary.
4. Systematics and Diversity of Extant
Reptiles.
Turtles (Testudines or Chelonia). Systematics and Phylogeny of
Turtles. Lepidosauria. Tuatara (Rhynchocephalia). Lizards and
Snakes (Squamata). Systematics and Phylogeny of Lizards. Snakes
(Serpentes). Systematics and Phylogeny of Snakes. Archosauria:
Crocodilians (Crocodylia). Systematics and Phylogeny of
Crocodilians. Summary.
5. The Biogeography of Amphibians and
Reptiles.
The Nature and Scope of Biogeography. Biogeographic Processes and
Analysis. The Geophysical Context for Historical Biogeography.
Continental Fragmentation and the Biogeography of Amphibians and
Reptiles. Some Island Patterns. Merging Faunas: North and South
America, the Great American Interchange, and the West Indies.
Generating Diversity: Salamanders and Frogs on Tropical Mountains.
Regional Phylogeography. Summary.
II. HOW DO THEY WORK?
6. Temperature and Water Relations.
Pathways of Energy and Water Exchange. Water Uptake and Loss. Water
in the Lives of Amphibians and Reptiles. Heat Gain and Loss.
Behavioral Aspects of Thermoregulation. Cardiovascular Control of
Heating and Cooling. The Thermal Ecology of Amphibians and
Reptiles. Freezing Resistance and Freezing Tolerance. Evolution of
Thermal and Evaporative Characteristics. Summary.
7. Energetics
and Performance.
Sites of Gas Exchange. Patterns of Blood Flow. Functions of
Intracardiac Shunts. ATP Synthesis: Oxidative and Glycolytic
Metabolism. Energy Costs of Natural Activities. Annual Energy
Budgets. Environmental Variables and Performance. Performance and
Fitness. Trade-Offs. Summary.
8. Reproduction and Life Histories
of Amphibians.
Sex Determination. Reproductive Cycles. Modes of Fertilization.
Hybridogenesis and Gynogenetic Reproduction. Reproductive Modes.
Evolution of Direct Development and Live-Bearing. Evolution of
Parental Care. Egg Size and Clutch Size. Larval Development,
Complex Life Cycles, and Metamorphosis. Paedomorphosis. Summary.
9. Reproduction and Life Histories of Reptiles.
Sexual and Asexual Reproduction. Sex Determination. Reproductive
Cycles. Reproductive Modes, Gametes, and Fertilization. Eggs,
Embryonic Development, and the Physiological Ecology of Eggs and
Embryos. Parental Care. Viviparity. Life-History Variation.
Summary.
10. Body Support and Locomotion.
Body Support, Thrust, and Gait. Lever Systems. Terrestrial
Locomotion with Limbs. Jumping. Terrestrial Limbless Locomotion.
Aquatic Locomotion. Burrowing. Climbing. Aerial Locomotion.
Summary.
11. Feeding.
Suction and Suspension Feeding. Terrestrial Feeding Mechanisms.
Cranial Kinesis. Envenomation. Pit Organ. Herbivory. Summary.
III. WHAT DO THEY DO?
12. Movements and Orientation.
Ecological Consequences of Movement. Methods for Studying
Movements. Types of Movement. Local Movements and home Range.
Territoriality. Migration. Movement of Juveniles. Homing Behavior.
Mechanisms of Orientation. Summary.
13. Communication.
Modes of Communication. Constraints on Signal production.
Communication and Noise. Communication by Salamanders.
Communication by Anurans. Communication by Turtles. Communication
by Crocodilians. Communication by Lepidosaurs. Summary.
14.
Mating Systems and Sexual Selection.
The Relationship of Mating Systems and Sexual Selection. Mating
Systems of Amphibians and Reptiles. Variables Affecting Male
Reproductive Success. Patterns of Sexual Size Dimorphism. Summary.
15. Diets, Foraging, and Interactions with Parasites and
Predators.
Diets. Amphibians and Reptiles as Predators. Interactions with
Parasites. Interactions with Predators. Coevolution of Predators
and Prey. Summary.
16. Species Assemblages.
Gradients in Species Richness. Determinants of Assemblage Structure
and Composition. Case Studies of Amphibian and Reptiles
Assemblages. Summary.
IV. WHAT ARE THEIR PROSPECTS FOR SURVIVAL?
17. Conservation and the Future of Amphibians and
Reptiles.
Conservation Biology. Major Themes. Human Perceptions of Amphibians
and Reptiles. Impact of Humans on Amphibians and Reptiles. Patterns
of Species Extinction and Extirpation. Conservation Options.
Declining Amphibians: A Model Issue. Summary.
Bibliography.
Illustration Credits.
Author Index.
Subject Index.