Ray Hunziker

This handy, 64 page guide offers useful information on maintaining lizards in captivity. Its primary focus is on lizards of the North American genus Sceloporus, small terrestrial lizards that commonly show up in the pet trade. Chapters present information on acquisition, captive maintenance and housing, feeding, breeding, and ailments (ectoparasites, endoparasites, fungs, metabolic diseases), followed by summaries of the biology of nine common Sceloporus species. Information on maintenance is of the general sort. Discussion of breeding is sparse and of limited value, given the diversity of reproductive patterns in the genus. A few species of the unrelated South American genus Liolaemus also are considered. The guide is beautifully illustrated with color photographs of the animals, some filling a two - page spread. Whereas plenty of guides to captive maintenance of iguanids are available, Swifts & Spiny Lizards is one of a very few to focus on these particular reptiles.… (més)