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University of California Press

About the Book

The Turtles of Mexico is the first comprehensive guide to the biology, ecology, evolution, and distribution of more than fifty freshwater and terrestrial turtle taxa found in Mexico. Legler and Vogt draw on more than fifty years of fieldwork to elucidate the natural history of these species. The volume includes an extensive introduction to turtle anatomy, taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, and physiology. A key to the turtles of Mexico is included along with individual species accounts featuring geographic distribution maps and detailed color illustrations. Specific topics discussed for each species include habitat, diet, feeding behavior, reproduction, predators, parasites, growth and ontogeny, sexual dimorphism, growth rings, economic use, conservation, legal protection, and taxonomic studies.

This book is a complete reference for scientists, conservationists, and professional and amateur enthusiasts who wish to study Mexican turtles.

About the Author

John M. Legler is Professor Emeritus of Biology at The University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Richard C. Vogt is a researcher at the National Institute for Amazonia Research, in Manaus, Brazil.

Reviews

"This volume is the first thorough coverage of the taxonomy, life history, and ecology of all species of Mexican turtles; The worldwide issue of turtle conservation will be greatly served with this thorough presentation. . . . All land managers, conservation biologists,
and herpetologists interested in Mexican biodiversity or turtles in particular should have a copy of this comprehensive coverage of an important group of animals."
The Quarterly Review of Biology
“For the first time, we have a synthesis of the biology of Mexican turtles. Legler and Vogt have combined their half century of field and laboratory studies with others' knowledge and written an exciting, encyclopedic, and readable source book on all aspects of Mexican turtle natural history."--George Zug, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

"This definitive and scholarly treatment of Mexican turtle biology sets the new standard for books on regional and national turtle faunas."--Joseph C. Mitchell, co-editor of Urban Herpetology