Herpetology,

"In this fourth edition of their herpetology textbook, Vitt and Caldwell have broken the subject down into six main parts comprised of 22 chapters. The first three parts cover evolutionary history, reproductive schemes, and physiology… Part four covers behavioral topics such as foraging, defense strategies, and communication, while part five is devoted to ecology, conservation and geographical distribution of species. Part six breaks down the classification system used for amphibians and reptiles covering all major subgroups such as frogs, salamanders, snakes, etc…"—Reference & Research Book News, December 2013

"Many of the new insights into the understanding of reptile and amphibian biology have been updated in this edition resulting in its increased size and making it a great value… This book will be an excellent addition to the library of anyone interested in herpetology."—Journal of American Veterinary Medicine Association, December 15, 2013

"Is this the best herpetology textbook available? Yes. Will I use it in my one semester course for upper-level undergraduates? Yes, this book will challenge them and would certainly also be suitable for a graduate course. Is it worth having students buy the new (4th) edition over the 3rd? Yes, updates to the content and to the references cited and enhancement of illustrations are worth it."—Phyllomedusa, December 2013

Advanced undergraduate/graduate students studying biology, wildlife and organismal biology and taking courses in herpetology; amphibian and reptile biologists, ecologists and conservation and evolutionary biologists, paleontologists