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North American
Watersnakes:
A Natural History
By J. Whitfield Gibbons
and Michael E. Dorcas
$49.95
University of Oklahoma Press |
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Book dispels myths about watersnakes
Many people fear snakes, and watersnakes in particular have one
of the worst reputations of any snake found in North America. Some
species are commonly mistaken for venomous cottonmouths, and a few
eat popular game fishes.
Unfortunately, because few people realize the important roles watersnakes
play in natural ecosystems, many species are still demonized today.
Seeking to overcome common misperceptions is North
American Watersnakes, the first comprehensive study of all
14 species of watersnakes found in the United States, Canada, Mexico
and Cuba.
The book is written by UGA’s Whit Gibbons, professor of ecology
at the Savannah River Ecology Lab, and Davidson College’s
Michael Dorcas.
Individual species accounts explore all aspects of the natural history
of watersnakes in North America, including their behavior, physiology,
life history, ecology and conservation.
In addition to summarizing existing literature on watersnakes, the
authors recount their personal experiences with various species.
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