Texas Snakes: Identification, Distribution, and Natural History

From the legendary, fear-inspiring western diamond-backed rattlesnake to the tiny, harmless plains blind snake, Texas has a greater diversity of snake species than any other state in the country. Recognizing the public’s need for a complete guide to identifying and understanding Texas’ snakes, two of the state’s most respected herpetologists have joined forces to create this definitive reference to all 109 species and subspecies of Texas snakes. Well-written species accounts describe each snake’s appearance, look-alikes, size, habitat, behavior, feeding, and reproduction. The authors also include color photos and finely detailed line drawings to aid field identification, along with accurate range maps, a checklist of Texas snakes, a key to the species, and a brief discussion of classification and taxonomy. The authors round out this volume with essays on snake myths and misinformation, snakebite and its prevention, conservation, Texas biotic provinces, and a brief history of Texas herpetology.

John E. Werler retired in 1992 from the Houston Zoological Gardens, where he served for thirty-six years, first as general curator and later as general manager.

James R. Dixon is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University.