Book Reviews
Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes: Herpetologists’ Tales from the Field
M. L. Crump (Ed.). 2024. Cornell University Press, Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN 9780813069337. 320 p. $26.95 (paperback).—In Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes, editor Martha L. Crump brings together the experiences of fifty field biologists who have dedicated their lives to studying amphibians and reptiles in their natural habitats. Crump is well known in the field of herpetology for her extensive research on amphibians in the tropics. She has investigated parental care, egg size as a function of habitat, and cannibalism, among other topics, ultimately highlighting the multifaceted and exceptional lives of amphibians. Her expertise and deep passion for the subject make her the perfect editor for this collection. This volume provides a rich and engaging look into the world of herpetology, offering seasoned researchers, newcomers, and those curious about how field biologists make discoveries of the natural world a taste of the excitement and challenges that come with fieldwork.
The book delivers on its promise to provide an intimate look at the life of field herpetologists. The essays are diverse, covering a range of geographical locations and experiences, from the Andes of Perú to the Gaoligong Mountains of China. Readers are transported into the field, sharing in the triumphs and tribulations of herpetologists as they conduct their research. The stories in this book present a candid perspective of the passion and love that herpetologists have for their study organisms. Robert (Bobby) Espinoza, for instance, reflects on his early fascination with herpetology, reminiscing how he “spent most of [his] youth immersed in herpetological pursuits” (p. 10). Similarly, Luis Coloma shares with us magical stories about his childhood memories as he encountered the famous and then abundant Jambato (Atelopus ignescens), which later would become rare and inspire his conservation efforts. While for some herpetologists their passion for frogs or snakes came later in life, for most researchers, herpetology has been a lifelong passion.
Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes stands out for its breadth of stories and the personal touch of each essay. The book does not merely recount scientific findings; it humanizes the field of herpetology by sharing the personal, intimate journeys and adventures of the researchers. This approach makes it not only accessible, but also engaging to a broader audience, including those who may not have a scientific background but are interested in learning about amphibians and reptiles, or more generally, about nature.
Through these stories, the book presents factual perspectives of the natural history of herps and how such discoveries have added key pieces to the puzzle of our understanding of their species richness, diversity, and life-history strategies. The essays strike a good balance between breadth and depth, providing enough detail to be informative without overwhelming the reader. The scientific information is presented in a way that is engaging and easy to understand for readers with diverse levels of expertise and interest. Such scientific efforts and the paths to discovery are peppered with unexpected twists. In Janalee Caldwell’s chapter, for example, readers are vividly brought along on an adventurous boat ride. Maureen A. Donnelly shares the tension of embarking on an expedition during times of political unrest. As unforeseen events await the reader in each chapter, the unforgettable bonds established between herpetologists and their mentors, their student mentees, and the people they meet in the field are a persistent reminder of the humanity of scientists.
The writing in Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes is one of its strongest points. The essays are well crafted, with a logical flow and consistent editing throughout. The candor, warmth, and humor with which the stories are told make the book a joy to read. The reader lives through the excitement of the researcher as their observations and discoveries are described. There are many instances of such moments, but a favorite of mine is how Cynthia P. A. Prado’s chapter lively captures the essence of observing animals behaving in the wild when she recalls finding male frogs engaged in fights in foam nests among a cacophony of calling males. The inclusion of high-quality black-and-white photographs enhances the reader’s experience by immersing us in the written accounts, thus providing a visual complement of the study species and researchers living these adventures.
Considering the quality of the content and the engaging writing style, the book is well worth its price tag. It offers valuable insights into the world of herpetology and is likely to inspire a greater appreciation for amphibians and reptiles. Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes is suitable for a wide audience. It will appeal to scientists and non-scientists alike. This book is an excellent gift for nature enthusiasts, and general readers who enjoy stories of adventure and discovery will find this book compelling and entertaining. This book is also a must-have for institutional and public libraries, which I encourage to add to their collections to ignite interest in wildlife and conservation, while promoting learning about nature. As a field herpetologist myself, I was thrilled to see the window these stories open into the work we do. As Crump concisely encapsulates in the preface, “fieldwork is the beginning and the end for many of us.” The essays in this book will appeal to anyone interested in the natural world and how we humans have changed it and continue to do so.
This book comes with a freely available artificial intelligence (AI) companion (Cornell University Press, 2024) created by the marketing team, which brings moments of the essays to life with unique and fun AI-generated images. From a subset of the chapters, the marketing team selected an eye-catching sentence or paragraph that inspired an illustration. This companion is an artistic and unexpected layer that takes the reader deeper into the stories adding a fun twist. I anticipate that after reading the essays, many readers will enjoy seeing these quirky images portraying the researchers and the study species described in the adventures.
In summary, Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes is a remarkable collection that captures the essence of field biology and the rollercoaster of discovering the natural world. Through its diverse essays, readers will gain an understanding of the dedication and passion that drives herpetologists in their quest for knowledge. This book is not only an informative read but also an inspiring one, encouraging greater engagement with and appreciation of the natural world.
LITERATURE CITED
- Cornell University Press, Marketing Team. 2024. Artificial intelligence (AI) companion to Lost Frogs and Hot Snakes. Crump M. L. (ed.).Cornell University Press, Comstock Publishing Associates,Ithaca, New York. https://issuu.com/cornelluniversitypress/docs/ai_book_issuu
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Ximena E. Bernal, Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Republic of Panama; Email: xbernal@purdue.edu.
Reef Fishes of the East Indies. Second edition. Volumes I-III
Gerald R. Allen and Mark V. Erdmann. 2024. Conservation International Foundation, University of Hawai‘i Press. ISBN: 9780987260048. 1,506 p. $250.00 (hardcover).—It has been twelve years since Gerald Allen and Mark Erdmann published their three-volume magnum opus, Reef Fishes of the East Indies. With detailed accounts of 2,631 species of reef fishes in 120 families, nearly all of which featured in stunning underwater photographs, these books have set a new standard for field guides everywhere. Not since Weber and de Beaufort’s Fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago, published in 11 volumes between 1911 and 1962, has the ichthyofauna of the East Indies region been so comprehensively covered. The cumulative 70 years of field and museum research by Gerald Allen and Mark Erdmann is a testament to the quality of their work, and so it comes as no surprise that the highly anticipated second edition of this seminal ichthyological resource retains the same meticulous attention to detail and high-quality underwater photographs that made the original series so indispensable.
The second edition of Reef Fishes of the East Indies now features 2,950 species of reef fishes in 128 families, incorporating the numerous species discoveries and taxonomic changes that have accumulated since the first edition. The first volume opens with a meaty introduction, the first 19 pages of which aims at familiarizing the reader with the history and geography of the East Indies, with short sections ranging from half a page to a full page dedicated to each country that makes up this diverse region. Importantly, the authors detail the collecting histories in these countries, highlighting gaps in knowledge resulting from the disproportionate research attention given early researchers across the region. The introduction is followed by an extensive ten-page section on the zoogeography of the East Indies. To adequately summarize the enormous body of literature explaining the high biodiversity and endemism of this region is a herculean task well beyond the scope of this book, yet the authors do a great job in distilling this information, particularly in their two-page feature on Cenderawasih Bay and its high levels of endemism. The final eight pages of the introduction touch on the biology, hybridization, ecology, and conservation of reef fishes. Though somewhat brief, these topics do not lose shine to other sections of the book, particularly in the authors’ discussion of marine conservation of the East Indies. Here they make no attempt to shy away from the myriad of threats that plague the East Indies, with confronting yet poignant images of dynamite fishing, illegal shark finning, and plastic pollution (amongst others) juxtaposing the dreamscape portrayal of coral reefs and island archipelagos so fervently depicted elsewhere in the introduction.
The main portion, and arguably the highlight of this book series, begins with species accounts of sharks and rays on page 44, continuing for every family of reef fishes across the next three volumes. A general description is provided for each family, the length of which varies from a few sentences to two pages depending on how taxonomically rich a particular group is. For example, family accounts for the major coral reef fish families Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes), Gobiidae (gobies), Labridae (wrasses), Pomacanthidae (angelfishes), and Pomacentridae (damselfishes) are wonderfully detailed, with exhaustive commentary on their feeding ecology, reproductive biology, and life histories. The authors also provide a summary of relevant literature for additional reading. The species accounts are where this body of work truly shines. Nearly every species is richly illustrated by underwater photographs of the highest quality, many of which are taken in situ by the authors themselves. The photographs are truly exquisite and include several species of fishes rarely illustrated in color and in life, such as Chaetodontoplus niger (Pomacanthidae), Prognathodes geminus (Chaetodontidae), and Chromis abyssus (Pomacentridae). For species that display different regional forms, are sexually dimorphic, or vary in coloration across their life histories, the authors make a concerted effort to include as many photographs as possible, a noticeable strength of this book series that is consistent across all three volumes. For species that are rare or cryptic, and for which live photographs are not available, scientific illustrations or photographs of type specimens are used. However, species accounts like these are but a small minority, and are almost imperceptible among the excess of 4,000 color photographs.
As impressive as the color photographs are, they do not detract from the quality of the written content. Each species account is accompanied by a common name, the Latin binomial with a species authority, the type locality of the species, a diagnosis that includes meristic and morphometric details, live coloration descriptions, maximum size, as well as habitat and distributional data. My only feedback here is that the species accounts lack general comments on the biology and behavior of the species, which, for the amateur user, may weigh more heavily than esoteric content like fin-ray and gill-raker counts. Still, the authors do a decent job at satisfying the reader, and the omission of additional descriptive data here is made up for by the sheer representation and coverage of species, including those that are very rare or obscure. For example, each of the four species of Calumia, a cryptic and lesser-known genus of coral reef-inhabiting eleotrid, are illustrated with live color photographs. The same can be said for many poorly known genera, and the exceptionally comprehensive coverage of cryptobenthic species from the Apogonidae, Blenniidae, and Gobiidae makes this book a standout and an invaluable literary resource for readers across all levels of expertise. There are some minor editorial mistakes, such as in the switching of photographs of Navigobius kaguya and N. vittatus on page1,145, but these do not affect the overall usability of the books.
In the series’ preface, the authors acknowledge the rapid progress of systematics and the resulting taxonomic repercussions for reef fish classifications. They do a good job in incorporating many of these recent taxonomic changes, as well as in acknowledging changes in higher relationships informed by molecular phylogenetic studies (Betancur-R et al., 2017). Taxonomic changes and new species descriptions from publications as recent as 2023 have been incorporated into this second edition. For example, relatively new generic names such as Pycnochromis (Pomacentridae; Tang et al., 2021) and Pyronotanthias (Anthiadidae; Gill, 2022) make their field-guide debut here, making this one of the most up-to-date and comprehensive resources available for the identification of coral reef fishes anywhere. However, the modern approach taken for this new edition and the incorporation of many recently proposed changes are somewhat inconsistent. For example, the authors still demonstrate a continued reluctance in several outdated classifications, such as in the recognition of the family Scaridae (parrotfishes) as distinct from the Labridae (wrasses). This critique was also pointed out in Rocha’s (2013) review of the first edition. In my opinion, this was a small, missed opportunity, especially since books of this caliber have the power to overcome taxonomic lag, and perpetuation of these classifications only serve to contradict the modern approach to classification taken by the authors for the other families. These taxonomic inconsistencies are, however, minor, and certainly do not diminish the overall high scientific value of the series.
The series is concluded by an appendix of 24 new species descriptions. Species descriptions in books are unconventional and are generally received with divided opinions, a major concern being accessibility and the lack of peer review. Regarding the latter, the authors made sure that the descriptions were at least read by relevant experts in their respective taxonomic groups, those of whom are reflected in the acknowledgments. Aside from that, the descriptions themselves are detailed and written to the standard of any peer-reviewed journal publication. The authors compared their new species with museum voucher specimens, they deposited their type specimens in major collections of Indonesia and Australia, and, most importantly, their descriptions fulfill the criteria outlined in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Most of the descriptions were based on morphological and coloration characters, except for one species where molecular data was also used.
In general, the second edition of Reef Fishes of the East Indies retains the overall meticulous attention to detail and reputation of the original series as an authoritative field guide, setting a new benchmark for scientific and photographic excellence in reef fish identification. The books go further than what is expected of a field guide, incorporating updated taxonomic revisions, descriptions of newly discovered species, and details an expanded geographic coverage and history of the region but without appearing bloated and directionless. However, because of its enormous coverage, the three volumes are large, heavy, and somewhat cumbersome in the field. This is to be expected, and really is a small burden to bear, for it is otherwise not possible to accurately reflect the immense biodiversity and rich natural history of the East Indies region. The book set retails at a modest US$250 and is available through the University of Hawai‘i Press. An electronic version of Reef Fishes of the East Indies can be purchased on the Apple App Store as a series of three interconnected applications (one for each volume), though this is limited to the first edition and available for iPads only. The first volume is free, and volumes 2 and 3 are available at US$17.99 each. Updates to the app incorporating changes detailed in the second edition, as well as its availability on Google Play Store for Android devices have been scheduled for mid to late 2025.
Overall, Reef Fishes of the East Indies continues its reign as the quintessential guide and portal to the world’s epicenter of coral reef biodiversity. Its enhanced content, coupled with the same scientific rigor and dedication of the authors, ensures it will remain an indispensable resource for ichthyologists, divers, and conservationists for years to come.
LITERATURE CITED
- Allen, G. R., and Erdmann M. V. 2012. Reef Fishes of the East Indies.First edition.Tropical Reef Research,Perth.
- Betancur-R, R., Wiley E. O., Arratia G., Acero A., Bailly N., Miya M., Lecointre G., and Ortí G. 2017. Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 17:162.
- Gill, A. C. 2022. Revised definitions of the anthiadine fish genera Mirolabrichthys Herre and Nemanthias Smith, with description of a new genus (Teleostei: Serranidae). Zootaxa 5092:41–66.
- Rocha, L. A. 2013. Book Review: Reef Fishes of the East Indies. Volumes I–III. Book Reviews. Copeia 2013:567–568.
- Tang, K. L., Stiassny M. L. J., Mayden R. L., and DeSalle R. 2021. Systematics of damselfishes. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109:258–318.
- Weber, M., and de Beaufort L. F. 1911–1962. The Fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Vols. I–XI.E. J. Brill,Leiden.
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Yi-Kai Tea, Curator of Ichthyology, Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Darlinghurst 2010, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Email: Yi-Kai.Tea@austmus.gov.au.