{"product_id":"tortoises-of-the-world-giants-to-dwarfs-9781421448350","title":"Tortoises of the World: Giants to Dwarfs","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eThe first book dedicated entirely to the fascinating ecology of the world's tortoises.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ci\u003eTortoises of the World \u003c\/i\u003eis the only book to offer a comprehensive exploration of the biology, natural history, and conservation of the fascinating family Testudinidae. Renowned reptile scientist George R. Zug and acclaimed science writer Devin A. Reese bring a wealth of research to life in this beautifully illustrated volume, the first dedicated wholly to tortoises.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFocusing on the diversity of the 47 known tortoise species and their evolution from ancestral turtles, this approachable and informative work explores: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Tortoise adaptations, their unique body plan, and their behavioral ecology\u003cbr\u003e- The odd anatomy and physiology that enables tortoises' life in shells\u003cbr\u003e- Their resilience to extreme temperatures and aridity\u003cbr\u003e- Tortoises' role as ecosystem engineers in the diverse habitats they occupy\u003cbr\u003e- Their intricate life cycle, from mating rituals and nesting to the tenuous survival of eggs and hatchlings\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eZug and Reese also examine the challenging nature of interactions between tortoises and humans while highlighting ongoing conservation efforts to secure their futures.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeorge R. Zug\u003c\/b\u003e, emeritus research scientist of reptiles and amphibians at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, is an award-winning herpetologist, the author of \u003ci\u003eReptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands\u003c\/i\u003e, and the coauthor of \u003ci\u003eHerpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cb\u003eDevin A. Reese\u003c\/b\u003e is the executive editor of \u003ci\u003eNatural History\u003c\/i\u003e magazine. An award-winning science writer who earned her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, she has written for the Smithsonian, PBS, the World Wildlife Fund, \u003ci\u003eScience News\u003c\/i\u003e, and elsewhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Johns Hopkins University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50645264072978,"sku":"9781421448350","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_b7400b8d-8c30-4b44-94e6-daa597d876e6.jpg?v=1733146342","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/tortoises-of-the-world-giants-to-dwarfs-9781421448350","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}