In semiautobiographical stories set largely in David Vann's native Alaska, Legend of a Suicide follows Roy Fenn from his birth on an island at the edge of the Bering Sea to his return thirty years later to confront the turbulent emotions and complex legacy of his father's suicide.

An insightful exploration of the iconic Galápagos tortoises, and how their fate is inextricably linked to our own in a rapidly changing world The Galápagos archipelago is often viewed as a last foothold of pristine nature. For sixty years, conservationists have worked to restore this evolutionary Eden after centuries of exploitation at the hands of pirates, whalers, and island settlers. This book tells the story of the islands' namesakes-the giant...

The Gulf of Guinea oceanic islands (Príncipe, São Tomé and Annobón) are the result of volcanic activity of the Cameroon Volcanic Line that occurred along this fracture in the earth's crust during the lower Tertiary and early Quaternary and that continues inland as the Cameroon/Nigerian mountains.They are located between 220 and 350 kilometers from the western coast of Central Africa and have never been in contact with the mainland. The three islands...

"There's no sound quite like it, or as viscerally terrifying: the ominous rattle of the timber rattlesnake. It's a chilling shorthand for imminent danger, and a reminder of the countless ways that nature can suddenly snuff us out. Yet most of us have never seen a timber rattler. Though they're found in thirty-one states, and near many major cities, in contemporary America timber rattlesnakes are creatures mostly of imagination and innate fear. Ted...

Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes reveals the thrills and travails that herpetologists experience when working with amphibians and reptiles in the wild. With essays from fifty field biologists, this volume, edited by Martha L. Crump, presents a multifaceted yet intimate look at life in pursuit of knowledge about the natural world. From the beaches of Peru to the mountains of China, the stories in this collection place readers in the boots of field biologists...

Known for its natural beauty, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is the largest inland peninsula in the United States. Consisting of 170,000 acres of forested and protected public land between Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River) and Lake Barkley (Cumberland River), this scenic sanctuary is visited by more than 1.4 million nature lovers annually and encompasses many diverse habitats, each supporting a particular community of plants and animals. Amphibians...

A beautifully illustrated tour of the region's snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and salamanders. In the best tradition of natural history writing and art, The Snake and the Salamander explores the diverse collection of reptiles and amphibians that inhabit the northeastern quadrant of the United States. Covering thirteen states that run from Maine to Virginia, author Alvin R. Breisch and artist Matt Patterson showcase the lives of 83 species of snakes,...

Reptiles of Costa Rica, the long-awaited companion to Amphibians of Costa Rica, is the first ever comprehensive field guide to the crocodilians, turtles, lizards, and snakes of Costa Rica. A popular destination for tourists and biologists because of its biodiversity, the country is particularly rich in reptile fauna, boasting 245 species. The sheer diversity in shapes, sizes, colors, and natural history traits of these animals is beautifully displayed...

Mark O'Shea is professor of herpetology at the University of Wolverhampton. He has presented numerous television series focused on snakes for the Discovery Channel, ITV, and the BBC; run a variety of herpetological field projects for the Royal Geographical Society, Operation Raleigh, and Discovery Expeditions; and conducted snakebite research in collaboration with the universities of Oxford, Liverpool, Melbourne, and Adelaide. His many books include...

Matthew Cooper loves sharks so much that he has made them the center of his life's journey. After a tragic shark attack early in his life, he founded the Cooper Institute for Shark Research. Now age 71, Matt Cooper and the crew of the Polaris II have discovered something terrifying off the coast of Australia. Something that will put them in deadly danger, perhaps even resulting in the death of everyone onboard!