Table Of ContentGreat Basin Naturalist56(3), O 1996,pp.283-285
BOOK REVIEW
Snakes of Utah. Douglas C. Cox and Wilmcr would be more useful ifa caption were shown
W. Tanner; Mark Fhilbrick, photography. by the other photographs throughout the text,
Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brig- e.g., the photo oppositepage 1 and those shown
ham Young Universit), Provo, UT. 1996. on pages 3, 4, 5, 8. The herpetologist will
$17.95 softcover. probably recognize these without caption, but,
as stated, it's likely these specialists will not be
Snakes of Utah, anticipated for some time, the primaiy users ofthe te.xt. Identification of
is finalK' avaikible for distribution. This book- snakes by these photographs may not be obvi-
let (92 total pages) includes all known species ous to most readers. Most photos show colors
and subspecies of snakes found in the state, and patterns of snakes, but a few, such as the
with brief descriptions, habits, and habitats, full view of the Upper Basin garter snake on
alongwith colored photographs ofeach. While page 59, do not show these identifiable fea-
most people will likeK shudder at the thought tures. It's interesting that the only snake not
ofsnakes, especiallywhileviewingphotographs, represented by a photo of the entire body is
the enthusiast will recognize the value of the the Sonoran lyre snake on page 67. One won-
illustrations and other published information. ders why. Perhaps it's because this snake is
Generalh; the booklet is written in nonscien- "considered to be rare. " However, the Dixie
tific language, but it also includes some scien- College Natural Science Museum contains
tific notations. For instance, scientific names records of7 specimens, 2 havingbeen found in
andautliorities ofthe33 species and subspecies, whatis nowconsidered "downtown" St. George,
along with common names, are included for 1 specimen as recently as 1980. It seems likely
each. Ofinterest (perhaps only to the special- thatwidi alittleeflFort, oneofdiese "rai'c" snakes
ist) is the fact that only 2 binomials are found might have been found. The photo ofthe Utah
among all Utah snakes; 31 are trinomials. It blind snake on page 17 is a surprise. Of the
might be concluded that, because ofsubspeci- several dozen blind snakes observed by this
ation, onh'27kinds ofsnakes are found in Utah. writer, representing localities from the Red
To the general public, a night snake is a night Cliffs Recreation Area near Leeds, Washing-
snake, a garter snake is a garter snake, and a ton County, to the extreme northwest corner
rattlesnake is a rattlesnake. Heipetologists have of Arizona, not 1 specimen even approached
named subspecies for practically all snakes, this dark phase. They have all been a pale tan
compoundingone's knowledge ofthese animals. color, frequently showinga suffusion ofpink.
Technically, where closely related subspecies Anotherimportantcontribution ofthis book-
show sympatric distribution, there should be let is the distribution maps included with each
intergradation between the 2 t\'pes. Most indi- species along with the general and sometimes
viduals using this booklet will probably not specific distribution of the snake within the
recognize differences between related sub- state. While it is difficult to show accurac\- on
species found especially in these sympatric a small map, some maps are erroneous. For
regions. If intergrades are not present, then instance, the distribution ofthe Painted Desert
these shouldbe elevatedto species andnotkept glossy snake is "in the extreme southeastern
as subspecies. Little infomiation is found in the sector of the state, adjacent to northeastern
booklet on intergradation ofcharacteristics. Arizona" (page 40). The map, however, shows it
An important contribution ofthis booklet is is found more south central than southeastern.
the colored photographs. While not captioned, An inconsistency from text to map is also
most photographs are obxious because they are obsen^ed with the California king snake (page
shown on thepageopposite the name and other 46). If this snake occurs "from the southwest
information on that snake. This publication corner east to the Colorado River," wh\' does
283
284 Great Basin Naturalist [Volume 56
the distributional map extend considerabh' The writer wonders at the importance of
beyond the Colorado Ri\er along the San Juan the full page ofillustrations (page 13) showing
River? Nothing in the text is speculative of a scalationwitli solittle reference to mostofthese
range extension. The maps ofthe Utah moun- features in descriptions. Some ofthese features
tain king snake (page 48) and the Utah milk are referenced; most are not.
snake (page 50) do not accurate!)' depict their While full pages ofcolor separate groups of
known distributions in Washington Count)'. snakes, does this mean that Joshua trees are
On page 60, of the western blackneck garter characteristic of the distribution of the Utah
snake, the text states "its northernmost habitat blind snake? Although the illustration on page
is associated with streams ... in the regions of 18 may be t)pical ofthe habitat ofthe rubber
southeastern Utah. The map shows its distri- boa in Utah, and on page 72 of the habitat of
bution into east central Utah. Reference is some of the rattlesnakes, does the illustration
made to a ground snake having been collected on page 22 depict the typical distribution of
in Carbon Count)', far from its known range, the colubrids? Perhaps these "division pages"
and this area is shown on the map. Might this were added merely forcolor; nevertheless, they
specimen have been one that escaped or was are attractive.
released from captivity? (Reports haxe been The authors ofthe booklet include anumber
made of indixiduals transporting this snake of interesting anthropomorphisms, perhaps
from the St. George area, where it is common, intentionally. Some of these are noted: (1) In
to elsewhere in the state.) There is speculation the introduction, the statement is made {page
that the Utah blackhead snake "may occur fur- 5) that "the snake employs rocks and biaish to
ther north in Emery and Carbon Counties." snag the skin and hold itwhile the snake crawls
(The proposed expansion is not shown on the out. One wonders ifthe snake does this inten-
map.) Wh)' might it not, then, be found in tionall)'. (2) "Denning is abehaviorpattern that
Wa)'ne Coimt)' and perhaps even San Juan and provides the snake with an opportunity to
Grand counties? If the midget faded rattle- come in contact with other snakes ofthe same
snake is found at Flaming Gorge, why does the species" (page 6). (3) Ofthe rubberboa, "itwill
map not showdistribution in thatarea? often cling like a bracelet and seem to enjoy it
While itwould add to the length ofthe text, as much as the person" (page 20). (4) The
it^vould ha\e been betterhad the authors given statement is made about the western )'ellow-
complete distribution ranges for all species belly racer (page 28) that "itwill attempt to bite
and subspecies, rather thanjust a few. A snake ifit feels at all threatened." (5) Another exam-
doesnt recognize apolitical boundan as being ple is that rattlesnakes use the rattle "as a
its limits! However, it could l)e reasoned, ifthe warning de\'ice to intimidate other animals
distribution extends to the Utah boundaiy the that mayharm the snake (page 75).
occurrence ofthat snake would also be in the Miscellaneous errors or inconsistencies in
neighboring state. narratixe, grammatical or othenvise, are found.
The full-page map ofthe state ofUtah (page The introduction, for instance, discusses tall
11) is a good addition to the text. However, tales and folklore ofthe American West. This
with the number ofsnakes found only in Utahs booklet is, ofcourse, about snakes ofone region
Mojave Desert, this feature might ha\'e been of th—e American West, but tall tales and folk-
identified along with the others. In the geo- lore even some of the same stories heard in
—
graphical and ecological descriptions of Utah the American West are repeated wherexer
(pages 9-10), considerable discussion is gi\'en snakes are found.
about montane regions, some at high ekna- On pages 4 and 5 the statement is made
tions, yet little is written about the low, hot tliat "the mouth is the most unixersally used
desert or the higher, cold desert, although the weapon emplo)'ed by snakes in self-defense."
authors admit to the richness ofreptile fauna, The emphasis is obvious because the accom-
especially in the low, hot desert, the south- pan)ing text is about self-defense, but snakes
western region ofthe state. use their mouths more often as a means of
In addition to these other features. Snakes obtaining food. Also, in the introduction, the
of Utah includes both glossar)-, though not statement is made that "these studies and our
inclusive of all technical words used in the inu.sciiDi i)ro<j.raiu help them to understand."
text, and index. (page 6, emphasis added). Later in the text
' "
1996] Book Hi:\ik\v 285
(page 9) reference is made to Brigham Young An inconsistency is noted about the Utah
L'ni\'ersit>''s Monte L. Bean Life Science mountain king snake and the Utah milk snake.
Museum. The complete identification of the Page 48 states: "ifaspecimen has awhite nose,
museum should ha\'e been made when it was it is most likely a mountain king snake. If, how-
lirst referenced on page 6. It could he pointed ever, it has a black nose, it is probably a milk
out, too, that other schools—and nmseums snake. These characteristics arenotcompletely
might ha\'e the same purpose to "lielp them reliable" (emphasis added). Page 50 states that
to understand about snakes. "the milk snake differs in that it has a black
While the following is not necessarily in nose."
error, it reflects awriting style. On page 12 the On pages 68 and 70 the habits ol the Mesa
following statements are made: "These snakes Verde night snake and the desert night snake
do not pose any threat to man but they do pro- are described as "nocturnal, secretive, and sel-
\ide a mild venom to help immobilize their dom seen." Furthermore, it is stated that the
prey. Theirprey includes worms, insects, frogs, former "feeds primarily on the lizard Utastans-
lizards, and small mammals. " In writing, re- huriana imiformis and other small lizards,"
peated words and phrases should be avoided while the latter "feeds primarily on the side-
in consecutive sentences or within the same blotched lizard Uta stanshuriami stanshiiriami."
sentence. It could betterhave been written, "to One wonders about this inasmuch as lizards
help immobilize their prey, which includes are primarily diurnal and snakes nocturnal. Of
worms, insects. . . . course, snakes could feed at nightwhile lizards
In the introduction to the tropical wormlike are inactive.
snakes, the statement is made that "they feed While reference is made in thebookletabout
on insects and worms, especially termites and the influence of soil on the ground color of
ants, found in the soil." The emphasis in this some snakes, there is no mention ofthis occur-
statement suggests that termites and ants are ring in the Mojave Desert sidewinder (page
kinds of wonns. This should have been written, 78). Ofthe hundreds ofsidewinders obsei^ved
"they feed on worms and insects, especially by the author in the past 50 years, the influ-
termites and ants. " In reference to the Utah ence of soil color on the ground color of the
blind snake the statement is made (also on snake is most obvious.
page 15) that Vasco M. Tanner "had seven Despite these criticisms. Snakes of Utah
specimens to examine, and the name is based should contribute importantly to our knowl-
on No. 662 in the BYU type collection." Name edge ofthese reptiles within alimited political
is inappropriately used, although specimen region. As noted, the booklet is written forlay-
No. 662 might have been published as the men, and its distribution is more appropriate
t\"pe specimen. in national and state parks and monuments than
One ofthe most frequently made grammat- in the scientific community. It is a "must" for
ical errors in writing is the inconsistency of backpackers, individuals, and families spend-
singulars and plurals within a sentence. On ingtime in tlie out-of-doors where snakes might
page 20, this type oferror is made. The rubber be encountered. The authors, tlie photographer,
boa "is a delightful animal to have around and the publisher are to be commended for
their wrist." Inasmuch as their is plural, the finally making this bookletavailable.
plurality ofivhsts must also be used.
Reference is made twice (on pages 30 and Andrew H. Barnum
44) that the snakes occur on "the margins of Professor Emeritus
deciduous forests." Small groups ofdeciduous Dixie College
trees may occur in riparian areas or where St. George, UT 84770
trees are cultivated, but technically, deciduous
forests do not occurin the state ofUtah.
The redundant statement is made about the
western leafnose snake that the rostral scale
"looks leaflike.
