The Exploration of Nature discussion

If you have a favorite guide book please let us know here. If you are looking for a field guide post it here, perhaps we can suggest something.

I am most interested and available for advice on field guides and books related to Reptiles and Amphibians. I find the spatial scope something most readers should focus on when purchasing a field guide. Also, how advanced their knowledge is. Some guides are made for audiences that require the basics, some are made for advanced audiences to use as a reference tool for years to come.

In the Reptile and Amphibian field guide world you have three distinct spacial classes; national (or separate guides for the western half and the eastern half), state and regional (i.e., carolinas for example), and even some with a smaller scope (i.e. county, National Park, Forest, or Refuge, and physiographic unit).

For most field guide platforms you have quick reference or large reference tool. Its the difference of portable and best left at home.

For me, in North Carolina, three great field guides find a home on my book shelf and are used frequently either as a quick reference or saved for further, deeper questions regarding natural history of a particular species.

I own and use the following that pertain to North Carolina:

National Scope (portable):
Peterson Field Guide: Reptiles and Amphibians (Eastern / Central North America) by Conant and Collins.
- great color plates and a dense short description on all species native to the area.

State Scope (portable):
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia by Jeff Beane, et al.
- great color photographs and perhaps some of the best concisely written species descriptions and natural history information.
- great section on the state's various eco-systems and regions with description on their habitat types.

State Scope (reference tool):
Reptiles of North Carolina by Palmer and Braswell.
- great color plates and the absolute most thorough species information you can find pertaining to North Carolina's reptiles.
- I have owned this since it was published (1995) and still use this valuable resource on a frequent basis.
- furthermore, the distributional maps presented in this book are exceptional in detail.

Nathan wrote: "I am most interested and available for advice on field guides and books related to Reptiles and Amphibians ..."

Thank you, Nathan. You sound like a great resource for people interested in this subject.

It is not a book, but the person responsible should write one. It is the most complete reference I have found to date on edible wild plants.

The site is named www.eattheweeds.com

Anyone interested in edible wild plants should bookmark the site.

Good to see other fellow-herpetologists. For the Northwest US
Amphibians of Oregon, Washington And British Columbia: A Field Identification Guide (Lone Pine Field Guides) is a great field guide.