Acta Herpetologica 4(2): 195, 2009

Book Review

Stephen J. Mullin, Richard A. Seigel, 2009 (Eds). Snakes ecology and conservation. A 
Comstock Book, Cornell University Press.

Book Review:

“Snake: Ecology and Conservation”, edited by Mullin and Seigel (2009) is the new edition of 
previous published volumes Snakes: Evolutionary biology (1987) and Snakes: Ecology and Behavior 
(1993). This edition not only represents an updated version of past volumes, but also it does illus-
trate and discuss new insights and relevant advances into snake life-history traits, such as for instance 
reproductive biology as a necessary step for conservation purposes. The editors selected modern 
approaches in snake research, focusing on conservation aims throughout all the chapters’ rationale. 

The contributing authors are among the world’s top experts in snake ecology and biology: 
their chapters embraced modern techniques (i.e. from automated telemetry, to cartographic analyses 
in ecological researches and conservation plans), modern disciplines (i.e., conservation biology) or 
integrated classical arguments with recent tools and applied techniques. 

Due to my personal feeling in reproductive biology and ecology of snakes, I have been par-
ticularly involved in “Linking Behavioral Ecology to Conservation Objectives” and in “Reproductive 
Biology, Population Viability and Options for field Management” chapters. Thus I am confident that 
snake experts worldwide could find their preferred and suitable chapter in this book.

Particularly relevant and stimulating is the chapter on “Combating Ophiophobia…”: which all 
not biologists should carefully consider when approaching a snake in the field or considering, and 
that teachers should comment in primary and secondary schools. 

Three hundred and 65 pages with more than 1.500 literature references (an huge amount!) 
make this book something special and unique, an outstanding, fundamental tool for snake biologists 
as well as land managers. Despite its scientific accuracy, richness of data presented and new research 
fields, Snake: Ecology and Conservation is a quite easy to read book. Fundamental for everybody 
wishes “entering” the snake mind and share snake feeling. Price of 52.50 USD. 

Correspondence: 
Marco A.L. Zuffi 1Museo di Storia Naturale e del Territorio, Università di Pisa, via Roma 79, 56011 
Calci (Pisa). E-mail: marcoz@museo.unipi.it