The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A herpetofauna between two continents, between two seas by Jay Savage, University of Chicago Press, $75, ISBN 0226735370 Reviewed by Adrian Barnett
Two-thirds the size of Scotland, slightly smaller than West Virginia, Costa Rica has more reptile and amphibian species than Europe. Straddling a biological crossroads between North and South America, with mist-marinated mountains and lowlands of rainforest and rain shadow drylands, Costa Rica has a profusion of lizards, snakes, salamanders, frogs, toads and caecilians.
Jay Savage provides detailed biologies for all 396 species, identification keys, and fine general introductions to each major…
