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IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2007 259BOOK REVIEWS

Herpetological History of the Zoo and Aquarium World. 2007. By
James B. Murphy. Krieger Publishing Company. xv + 327 p.
ISBN 1-57524-285-0. $79.50 (hardcover).

This is a remarkable volume of work that is as notable for its
depth and thoroughness as for its warm celebration of a history
of institutions and individuals that could only be told by Jim
Murphy. Murphy’s time in the Special Collections Library at the
Smithsonians’s Natural History Museum is evident. The book is
loaded with wonderfully incisive and ironic quotes from obscure
sources and images from throughout the history of the profes-
sion. In separate sections, Murphy recounts the stories and tra-
ditions of the discipline from the various perspectives that define
zoo and aquarium herpetology — taxa, individuals, programs,
and institutions. This approach leads to some redundancy, but,
somewhat ironically, is simultaneously efficient and highly read-
able. The approach is appropriate, for example, because one can-
not truly understand the inestimable impact of Roger Conant
soley from the perspectives of the Toledo or Philadelphia zoos.
Likewise, the remarkable contributions of those institutions can-
not be appreciated only through their associations with Dr.
Conant. Similarly, describing the historical importance of croc-
odilians in the bestiary–menagerie–modern zoo transition would
be impossible by simply listing which institutions had published
the most papers or successfully bred which species. This neat
multifaceted approach is broadened by the inclusion of a unique
chapter entitled “Historical Vignettes” that highlights programs,
twist-of-fate stories, or simple but important ideas. Here,
Murphy’s story-telling style works well in relating a series of
compelling tales that expand the confines of biographical or
institutional sketches. These are labeled with interest-catching
titles, such as “Why Galápagos Land Iguanas From Baltra Island
Are Not Extinct.”

The chapter entitled “Evolution of a Discipline” is built
around a taxonomic framework that highlights major advances
in the field in terms of, for example, simply getting snakes to eat
in captivity or the remarkable insights into snake behavior that
could only have been gathered from healthy, captive individu-
als. What really struck me in this review was the lack of effort
on the part of zoo herpetologists in the realms of taxonomy and
morphology. This is a shame, given the access to countless spec-
imens and variants that typifies the discipline. In this vein, I
believe I may have detected the only oversight in this otherwise
terrific book, as I found no references to the seminal papers on
reptilian morphology and evolution by George Rabb
(Brookfield Zoo) and his colleague Hymen Marx (Field
Museum of Natural History). This chapter, as important as it is,
is a bit difficult to read, as Murphy was forced to include as
many references to published works as possible (one of his stated
metrics of a zoo’s historical impact) and, given the uneven spread

of such papers taxonomically and topically, the chapter varies
greatly in its depth of coverage. While perhaps a clumsy read, I
shudder at the thought of having to organize and write such a
review.

The chapter “Pioneers in Zoo Herpetology” and the clos-
ing chapters highlighting significant institutions from through-
out the world are the heart and soul of the book. These could
have been dull accounts of persons, places, dates, and discipline-
firsts, except that Murphy personalizes each topic with his own
experiences and perceptions. For an author to inject so much of
himself into a work like this is always a bit risky. If poorly done,
it reeks of arrogance. However, with his usual story-telling elo-
quence and his famously self-effacing personality, Murphy suc-
ceeds. Few curators or keepers in the field today have heard of
the inimitable Joe Laszlo of the San Antonio Zoo, but thanks to
Murphy his legend lives.

The chapter “Evolution of an Idea” was my favorite.
Murphy takes the reader on a historical (and highly personal)
journey through the remarkable transition through which zoo
herpetology passed in a time span shorter than a single career.
Murphy helps us realize that zoo-based conservation programs

B O O K  R E V I E W S

Herpetology in the 
Zoo and Aquarium World



260 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 4  •  DECEMBER 2007 BOOK REVIEWS

were in place for mammals and birds while herp departments
remained unable to determine the gender of their charges and
had standing orders with people who poached rattlesnake dens!
However, Murphy repeatedly makes the point that the transi-
tion is still far from complete — especially in the case of
amphibians, which remain an afterthought in all but a very few
programs. Nevertheless, the current respectable state of zoo her-
petology is attributable to individuals like Roger Conant, James
Oliver, and, of course, James B. Murphy. Murphy reminds us of
times when representatives of zoos were not really welcome at
scientific conferences, when research papers by zoo personnel or
those based on work at zoos were not considered worthy of pub-
lication, and when the animals themselves were not considered
worthy of conservation. With such a dramatic conceptual turn
in their histories, zoos are fortunate that Murphy places this

remarkable transition in an appropriate perspective. A nice
touch also is that this transition figures heavily in the Foreword
by the late Roger Conant. How appropriate that this book pro-
vides us with one more bit of wisdom from the undisputed
“godfather” of zoo herpetology.

Murphy relates, with great pride, the progress zoo herpetol-
ogy programs have made, mainly by emphasizing their very real
contributions, including their leading role in the development
of important conservation programs such as the Declining
Amphibian Population Task Force. Reading this book made me
proud of our profession — and that’s a nice feeling. Thanks, Jim!

Joseph R. Mendelson III
Curator of Herpetology

Zoo Atlanta

Hispaniola. A Photographic Journey through Island Biodiversity.
Bioversidad a Través de un Recorrido Fotográfico. 2007. By Eladio
Fernández. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press,
Cambridge, Massachusetts. xx + 374 pp. Hardcover — ISBN-
10: 0-674-02628-4 — $ 60.

My first trip to the West Indies was to the Dominican Republic.
I’ve since spent considerable time on other islands, but when I’m
asked which is my favorite, I always come back to Hispaniola.
Rather than attempt to explain (usually in vain) why the island
is so enticing, I now can direct anyone to Eladio Fernández’s pro-
fusely illustrated book that so eloquently defines the island’s nat-
ural beauty through the discerning eyes of a knowledgeable nat-
uralist and gifted photographer. A total of 375 color photographs,
many of them covering two facing pages in this coffee-table vol-
ume, show flowers, landscapes, insects, birds, and, of particular
interest, amphibians and reptiles. Better yet, in many instances,
the reader is not just greeted with portraits, but is immersed into
natural habitats as pollinators visit flowers, predators consume
prey, and anoles fan their dewlaps intent on attracting a mate or
dissuading a rival. Even the vistas emanate life in a way seldom
experienced through photographs. 

This is a volume of images, some subtle, many powerful, all
beautiful. The text is almost an afterthought, yet no less valuable
— once one finds the strength to turn away from the photo-
graphs. All text is bilingual (English and Spanish), from the title
to the acknowledgments. The foreword by noted naturalist
Edward O. Wilson deftly provides the context that makes the vol-
ume so appealing — that the beauty portrayed is ephemeral, all
the more so for lack of a human commitment to treasure and pre-
serve it. Philippe Bayard, of the Société Audubon Haïti, states
explicitly how effectively art can promote conservation. The pho-
tographer’s note by Fernández includes a somewhat wistful wish
that this book may “raise awareness and spark an interest in pre-
serving [his] island’s natural heritage.” Additional “essays” by a vir-
tual who’s who of Neotropical biologists address the diversity of
Hispaniola’s birds (Steven C. Latta and Christopher C. Rimmer),
mammals (Charles A. Woods and José A. Ottenwalder), amphib-

ians and reptiles (S. Blair Hedges), insects (Brian Ferrell), vegeta-
tion (Milcíades Mejía and Ricardo García), and fungi (Timothy
J. Baroni and Sharon A. Cantrell). All are eloquent, concise, and
consistent in acknowledging both the unique nature and perverse
fragility of the island’s habitats and their denizens.

The book effectively surprises, entertains, and pleases on
each subsequent page. Only the all-too consistently dark images
(undoubtedly attributable to cost-cutting decisions on the part
of the publisher, otherwise not known to pinch pennies) detract
— but fortunately not to the point where the grandeur of the
subject or the gift of the artist are compromised. I only wish I
could have avoided this one criticism of what is otherwise one of
the best packages under one cover to come along in many, many
years. Anyone who has experienced the islands or who wishes to
do so some day should buy a copy, curl up in a warm chair on a
cold night, and dream of paradise — before it’s too late.

Robert Powell
Department of Biology, Avila University

Kansas City, Missouri

Island Paradise




