Table Of Content

BookReviews Spectacular Snakes ofAustralia members ofthe families ofAustralian snakes, ByMichael Cermak with a very brief overview of sea snakes and seakraits. Theaccountstypicallydescribeeach Publisher: CSIROPublishing, Collingwood, Vic- snake’s habits, habitat, predators, prey and re- production, with numerous photographs of toria2I0S08B.N9172800p6a4g3e0s,95p9a4p6e.rbaRcRk,Pc$o4l0o.u0r0plates. each of these subtopics. As in most modern books on reptiles, the photographs are very It is fair to say that, of Australia’s vertebrate good. And as in several other books on Aus- wildlife, snakes top the ‘least popular’ list. In tralian reptiles, the photogenic Green Python fact,arecentstudynotedthatofalltheanimals graces the front cover. A briefglossaryis pro- likely to be encountered in suburbia, snakes vided. were the least desired around people’s homes As well as imparting a great deal of factual (Davies et al. 2004). Mentioning a fondness information from recent decades of research forsnakesinpolitecompanywilloftenresultin by others, Cermak infuses the text with many people smilingnervously, shufflinga fewpaces anecdotes and facts from his own consider- away, andquietlyhopingthatthemalaiseisnot able experience (including observations from contagious. captive husbandry, and field experiences such I imagine that this is a situation that Michael as being bitten bya large Scrub Python!). The Cermak has experienced more than once. In work is up-to-date, coveringthe recent discov- the preface to Spectacular Snakes ofAustralia, ery ofa third species ofTaipan and a second he relates his experiences over four decades, KingBrown Snake. firstly as an amateur reptile keeper, and later The book has few faults - a couple ofminor as a lowly-paid professional (not much has grammatical errors, and onephotograph is out changed in earning potential since then). Im- of place on page 81. I believe that any book portantly, theprefacealso explainstheaimand that covers snakes should include a guide to targetaudience ofthisbook. This is nota field snakebite first aid. I realise this is not within guide-thereareanumberofexcellentnational the explicitscope ofthebook, butitis a simple and regionalfield guidesforAustralian snakes; inclusion,and Iliketoseethisinformationim- rather, in the words ofthe author, this book is parted at every opportunity, particularlywhen intendedto ‘visuallyportraysnakes,theirhabi- the likely readership will include young, pas- tats, predators and prey, alongside informative sionateherpetologistswho are known fortheir text, digestible not only by reptile enthusiasts risk-taking. but by anyone who appreciates wildlife and Owing to the subject matter, I imagine that natural history’ (p.vii). this book will not have a particularly wide The book follows a taxonomic format, show- readership,andmostpurchaseswillbebythose casingrepresentativeorparticularlyinteresting already interested in snakes. This is a shame, because this is preciselythe type of bookand format that can engender an appreciation of these maligned animals. Reference DaviesRG,WebberLMandBarnesGS(2004) Urban wildlife management - it’s as much about people! In Urban Wildlife: More Than Meets the Eye. Eds Lunney D & Burgin S. (Sydney: Royal Zoological Society of New SouthWales) NickClemann ArthurRylahInstitute forEnvironmentalResearch DeptofSustainabilityandEnvironment 123BrownStreetHeidelberg, Victoria3084 Vol 127 (1)2010 29