Packed with sumptuous photography, this is one of the first titles in the
new and lavish 'Deluxe' natural history series from Reed New Holland. The
images celebrate the beauty and marvellous design of some of our most
misunderstood animals, the reptiles. They share a magnificence and elegance
that we are now beginning to really appreciate. They are, in the true sense
of the word, awesome! The images have stories to tell. A gecko with padded
toes dashes across vertical glass, seeming to mock the laws of gravity as
it moves effortlessly over that smooth surface. In just a fraction of a
second a chameleon unleashes its tongue, a high- velocity projectile, with
the accuracy of a marksman to snatch an insect from a twig a body's length
away. In a powerful test of strength and endurance, two great Komodo
Dragons, the largest living lizards, rise on their hind limbs and try to
topple each other in a meeting of muscles and scaly hides. Stunning shots
of snakes, lizards, crocodiles and turtles from around the world are
brought together via a foreword from expert herpetologist Steve Wilson, who
explains why reptiles are such an ongoing success story, having been around
for 200 million years and with 12,000 extant species adapted to habitats as
varied as arctic tundra, deserts, rainforests and open oceans. All in all
'Reptiles' is a glorious memento of a fascinating subject, brought together
in a luxurious book that celebrates the many astonishing reptile species
from all around the planet, making it ideal for nature lovers, as a gift,
or as an interior design feature in any home.
