"There are no currently available California snake guides (there are Western reptile and snake guides more generally). Combines professional and academic authority with accessible information. A general audience field guide to the 40 species of snakes of California, both native and most commonly found introduced species, with beautiful identifying photographs, engaging and fun description of behavior and traits from a herpetologist and teacher, and helpful notes on how to live thoughtfully with snakes.
Author Emily Taylor is the director of the Physiological Ecology of Reptiles Lab at California Polytechnic State University, and she is the owner of Central Coast Snake Services. There’s a deep niche fascination with snakes both as pets and as wild creatures. Fits nicely with Heyday's other books about engaging with wildlife such as Stranded, our ""Birds of"" series, Nocturnalia, and the forthcoming Unnatural Habitat. It's generally good to demystify snakes and reptiles and highlight safety and observation when seeing them on hikes or other outdoor adventures. The numerous parks and other gift shops around California will want this book. "
By:
Emily Taylor
Imprint: Heyday Books
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 177mm,
Width: 127mm,
ISBN: 9781597146340
ISBN 10: 159714634X
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 14 August 2024
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Preface Introduction What Are Snakes? California Is a Perfect State for Snakes People and Snakes—A Complicated Relationship What’s in a Snake’s Name? How to Find and Watch Snakes in California Think Before You Touch California Rattlesnakes Deserve Our Respect, Not Fear What Good Are Rattlesnakes? (sidebar or box) That’s Not a Snake! Family Boidae Rubber Boa (Charina bottae) Rosy Boa (Lichanura orcutti) Family Colubridae Glossy Snake (Arizona elegans) Baja California Ratsnake (Bogertophis rosaliae) Shovel-nosed Snakes (Chionactis annulata and C. occipitalis) North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) Sharp-tailed Snakes (Contia longicauda and C. tenuis) Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) Nightsnakes (Hypsiglena chlorophaea and H. ochrorhyncha) California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) Mountain Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis multifasciata and L. zonata) Coachwhips (Masticophis flagellum and M. fuliginosus) Striped Racer (Masticophis lateralis) Striped Whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus) Watersnakes (Nerodia fasciata and N. sipedon) Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus) Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer) Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis) Western Ground Snake (Sonora semiannulata) Black-headed Snakes (Tantilla hobartsmithi and T. planiceps) Aquatic Garter Snake (Thamnophis atratus) Sierra Garter Snake (Thamnophis couchii) Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans) Giant Garter Snake (Thamnophis gigas) Two-striped Garter Snake (Thamnophis hammondii) Checkered Garter Snake (Thamnophis marcianus) Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) Lyresnakes (Trimorphodon lambda and T. lyrophanes) Family Hydrophiidae Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus) Family Leptotyphlopidae Western Threadsnake (Rena humilis) Family Typhlopidae Brahminy Blindsnake (Indotyphlops braminus) Family Viperidae Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus pyrrhus) Red Diamond Rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber) Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) Panamint Rattlesnake (Crotalus stephensi) Acknowledgments Recommended Further Reading About the Author
Emily Taylor is a professor of biological sciences at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, where she conducts research on the physiology, ecology, and conservation biology of lizards and snakes. A staunch advocate for improving the public image of snakes, especially rattlesnakes, Dr. Taylor is founder of the community science initiative Project RattleCam (rattlecam.org), where members of the public help her and other scientists learn about rattlesnakes by analyzing photos and livestream footage from snake dens. She is owner of Central Coast Snake Services (centralcoastsnakeservices.com), which helps people and snakes in California coexist safely and peacefully. She lives in Atascadero with her husband, Steve, and their menagerie of rescue animals, including Pax the dog, Baby the boa constrictor, Aperol Spritz the bearded dragon, and rattlesnakes Buzz and Snakeholio. Follow her on X @snakeymama.
Reviews for California Snakes and How to Find Them
"""I've loved snakes since childhood and am thrilled to now have this gorgeous book as my companion to finding snakes wherever a walk on the wild side takes me."" —Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club and The Backyard Bird Chronicles"
