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Full Description
The first book dedicated entirely to the fascinating ecology of the world's tortoises.
Tortoises of the World is the only book to offer a comprehensive exploration of the biology, natural history, and conservation of the fascinating family Testudinidae. Renowned reptile scientist George R. Zug and acclaimed science writer Devin A. Reese bring a wealth of research to life in this beautifully illustrated volume, the first dedicated wholly to tortoises.
Focusing on the diversity of the 47 known tortoise species and their evolution from ancestral turtles, this approachable and informative work explores:
• Tortoise adaptations, their unique body plan, and their behavioral ecology
• The odd anatomy and physiology that enables tortoises' life in shells
• Their resilience to extreme temperatures and aridity
• Tortoises' role as ecosystem engineers in the diverse habitats they occupy
• Their intricate life cycle, from mating rituals and nesting to the tenuous survival of eggs and hatchlings
Zug and Reese also examine the challenging nature of interactions between tortoises and humans while highlighting ongoing conservation efforts to secure their futures.
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1. How the Tortoise Beat the Hare
Chapter 2. Life in a Shell: Tortoise Body Plan
Chapter 3. Physiology and Behavior: Tortoise Resilience
Chapter 4. Courtship to Nesting: Tortoise Reproduction
Chapter 5. Hatchlings to Adults: Tortoise Life Cycle
Chapter 6. Deserts to Rainforests: Tortoise Ecology
Chapter 7. Today's Species: Tortoise Diversity
Chapter 8. Ancestry and Evolution: Tortoise Origins
Chapter 9. Human Interactions I: Tortoise Decimation
Chapter 10. Human Interactions II: Tortoise Conservation
Acknowledgments
Further Readings
Appendix. Turtle Families and Tortoise Species
Standard and Scientific Name Index
Subject Index
