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Schleich, H.H., Kästle, W. (1988): Reptile Egg-shells SEM Atlas. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Postfach 720143, D-7000 Stuttgart 70, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. 123 pp., 53 figs., 45 plates, hard cover. Price DM 68.-

Schleich, H.H., Kästle, W. (1988): Reptile Egg-shells SEM Atlas. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Postfach... Book reviews Schleich, H.H., Kästle, W. (1988): Reptile Egg-shells SEM Atlas. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Postfach 720143, D-7000 Stuttgart 70, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. 123 pp., 53 figs., 45 plates, hard cover. Price DM 68.-. Modern techniques offer biologists ever increasing possiblities to analyse the material they are studying. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) is one of these techniques that have been used for ever increasing pur- poses, e.g.to study surface structures of reptilian scales. Hardshelled eggs of crocodilians and turtles had been studied earlier with this technique, because of paleontological interest, soft-shelled eggs of squamata were neglected. The present book fills a gap in this field, by presenting us with data of many recent squamates, some tor- toises and some fossil material. Fifteen pages are dedicated to a general introduction about reptile egg-shells, accompanied by schematic drawings and a review of the literature. The bulk of the book is taken up by plates and accompanying text. Plates 1-38 concern recent, plates 39-45 fossil material. The plate section is followed by a short, but apparently rather complete list of literature and an index. The DIN A4 size of the book and the lay-out cause it to contain a lot of information. As is already evident from the above, the major part of the book is formed by the plates and the accompa- nying text. Explanatory text is on left hand pages, opposite the plates. For all species photographs of surface and edge or cross-section are given, whereas in many cases details at larger magnifications are also presented. All plates are composite and consist mostly of 8, exceptionally of 6 or 10 pictures, mostly depic- ting several species. Pictures of one species may be divided between consecutive plates. For many species a reconstruction of the egg-shell is given in the form of a block diagram, presenting a three dimensional view. Photographs of egg-shells of 4 crocodilians, 17 turtles, 36 lizards, 13 snakes and 1 amphisbaenian are presented, whereas in the fossil section photographs of 13 organisms, among which one bird and four new species of four new genera are given. For some of the organisms in this section (pl. 43) it is not even certain they are of reptilian origin. The quality of the photographs is good and the title is well chosen. For identification of egg-shell fragments this book forms a still very narrow base, but it looks like in future with added data such identifications may become possible. It should be mentioned that the nomenclature used in some cases is oldfashioned, in other cases it is down- right wrong, e.g. Vipera (Gloydius) palaestinae should be Vipera (Daboia) palaestinae, Agkistrodon (Daboia) rhodostoma should be Calloselasma rhodostoma. Philodryas schottii (Schlegel, 1837) at present should be Liophis poecilogyrus schottii, but if Philodryas schottii Günther 1858 is meant it should be Philodryas patagoniensis. Thus, it is not clear which species exactly is meant. For persons interested in this specialized field this book is a must, for those with a general interest in reptiles and their eggs this is an interesting book to look through and marvel at the sometimes strange structures that occur. Marinus S. Hoogmoed (Leidcn) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Amphibia-Reptilia Brill

Schleich, H.H., Kästle, W. (1988): Reptile Egg-shells SEM Atlas. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Postfach 720143, D-7000 Stuttgart 70, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. 123 pp., 53 figs., 45 plates, hard cover. Price DM 68.-

Amphibia-Reptilia , Volume 10 (4): 1 – Jan 1, 1989

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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0173-5373
eISSN
1568-5381
DOI
10.1163/156853889x00115
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Book reviews Schleich, H.H., Kästle, W. (1988): Reptile Egg-shells SEM Atlas. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Postfach 720143, D-7000 Stuttgart 70, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. 123 pp., 53 figs., 45 plates, hard cover. Price DM 68.-. Modern techniques offer biologists ever increasing possiblities to analyse the material they are studying. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) is one of these techniques that have been used for ever increasing pur- poses, e.g.to study surface structures of reptilian scales. Hardshelled eggs of crocodilians and turtles had been studied earlier with this technique, because of paleontological interest, soft-shelled eggs of squamata were neglected. The present book fills a gap in this field, by presenting us with data of many recent squamates, some tor- toises and some fossil material. Fifteen pages are dedicated to a general introduction about reptile egg-shells, accompanied by schematic drawings and a review of the literature. The bulk of the book is taken up by plates and accompanying text. Plates 1-38 concern recent, plates 39-45 fossil material. The plate section is followed by a short, but apparently rather complete list of literature and an index. The DIN A4 size of the book and the lay-out cause it to contain a lot of information. As is already evident from the above, the major part of the book is formed by the plates and the accompa- nying text. Explanatory text is on left hand pages, opposite the plates. For all species photographs of surface and edge or cross-section are given, whereas in many cases details at larger magnifications are also presented. All plates are composite and consist mostly of 8, exceptionally of 6 or 10 pictures, mostly depic- ting several species. Pictures of one species may be divided between consecutive plates. For many species a reconstruction of the egg-shell is given in the form of a block diagram, presenting a three dimensional view. Photographs of egg-shells of 4 crocodilians, 17 turtles, 36 lizards, 13 snakes and 1 amphisbaenian are presented, whereas in the fossil section photographs of 13 organisms, among which one bird and four new species of four new genera are given. For some of the organisms in this section (pl. 43) it is not even certain they are of reptilian origin. The quality of the photographs is good and the title is well chosen. For identification of egg-shell fragments this book forms a still very narrow base, but it looks like in future with added data such identifications may become possible. It should be mentioned that the nomenclature used in some cases is oldfashioned, in other cases it is down- right wrong, e.g. Vipera (Gloydius) palaestinae should be Vipera (Daboia) palaestinae, Agkistrodon (Daboia) rhodostoma should be Calloselasma rhodostoma. Philodryas schottii (Schlegel, 1837) at present should be Liophis poecilogyrus schottii, but if Philodryas schottii Günther 1858 is meant it should be Philodryas patagoniensis. Thus, it is not clear which species exactly is meant. For persons interested in this specialized field this book is a must, for those with a general interest in reptiles and their eggs this is an interesting book to look through and marvel at the sometimes strange structures that occur. Marinus S. Hoogmoed (Leidcn)

Journal

Amphibia-ReptiliaBrill

Published: Jan 1, 1989

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