Snakes of the Agkistrodon Complex: A Monographic Review (Contributions to Herpetology)

Rating:
Summary: A comment of this monograph
Review: An excellent and detailed text, the best range maps ever assembled for the genus, and exquisite photography make this an instant classic. Only one criticism: the overemphasis on subspecies distorts completely the composition of the genus. Subspecies are uninformative from an evolutionary and biological standpoint, and this monograph obscures larger, more interesting problems (i.e., is the Trans-Pecos Copperhead a distinct species?). Nonetheless, buy it. But recognize that it is an old-fashioned treatment of snakes whose real diversity has yet to be discovered.