Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe

View other editions of Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe.
View books by Nick Arnold, Denys Ovenden.

Probably the best guide on the market - Rated
This guide has helped me to identify some of the species I have photographed on my travels and it's probably the only best guide available on the market at the moment.
However, I only give 3 stars to this book as I find that having to look at the plates which refer you to a page number for the full text description which sends you to a map number at the end of the book for distribution, really annoying, frustrating and time wasting. I have at home a new publication on dragonflies of Europe where everything (plates/text/distribution map) is on the same page!! Why can't Collins do that?
This publication is certainly very useful for the identification of species in general but contains some errors on the distribution of some species (maybe in need to be updated). For example, I have found some Common Tree Frogs in the Camargue (South of France) where the book shows that they are inexistant in the area.
Apart from that, the keys for identification are very good, the plates are excellent and the text description is full of useful information (habitat, detailed description including colour, length etc., similar species...). This is a book for any enthusiastic herpetologists.

A must have for all herp lovers - Rated
This is the best herp book i've got...
It is very helpful, and full of colour plates, showing the main sub-species and geographical variations likely to be seen in Europe, including the Canary Islands and some of the islands off the coast of Asiatic Turkey (Sadly not Cyprus).

I'm planning on taking it on a school trip to see WW1 battlefields in March (6th-9th), to Belgium and France, and as I am sure I wil be able to see some herps, this book will prove very useful in identifing the species I may come across...

worth the wait - Rated
I have the 1978 edition of this book and have always hoped there would be a revised, updated edition but knowing how long it must have taken to research I never thought it would be done. Well here it is and with newly discovered sub specieces, variations, Canary Island inclusions(if only I had the book last july when I was in Tenerife) it is well worth the wait. The plates are grouped together and good plates of the additional species. The maps have been revised and expanded too. I shall take it with me to Turkey & N Cyprus next august as it is just about small enough for carrying around. This is a very comprehensive reference/field book and is a must have for all reptile enthusiasts.

Superb - Rated
This book is quite simply the best field guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the region. This revised edition now has all the plates grouped together for ease of reference and also includes many new species not previously covered.
If you only buy one field guide then buy this one.

COLLINýS REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS, BRITAIN & EUROPE - Rated
We have five copies of the first edition of Collins field guide "Reptiles & Amphibians" in our laboratory, which we use almost daily. For last 6 months I have been waiting for my very own copy of the second edition, but every time I tried to order, I received the message "not yet published". Once I finally received my own copy, I was not disappointed.

This long-awaited second edition includes a more comprehensive and easier to use identification key with many more species and subspecies, including those which have been introduced to Europe (i.e. the red eared Terrapin Trachemys scripta which was previously found only in the Americas). The addition of 66 new distribution maps is also a valuable tool in determination. More plates have been added (i.e. sea turtles, skinks, Canary Island lizards, lacertas - new plate with 5 new species described). New species of snake have been added and described (i.e. 2 new species from the Colubridae family and 1 new viper).

The species are listed and described according the newest systematic classifications, thanks to genetic research since the first edition, aiding both the professional biologist and amateur nature lover in making a concise and correct identification in the field.

"Reptiles & Amphibians" has completed my Collins issue library of other valuable field guides, such as Collin's Bird and Mammals, Collin's Fishes, etc...