Guest Review by Edward Gentz, DVM, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, NM (Click on stars for an explanation)

This book is a research report of fieldwork (primarily in Grenada) conducted by the author, the Curator of Reptiles at the Milwaukee Public Museum, Wisconsin. The book focuses mainly on the Grenada tree boa, Corallus grenadensis, but also discusses the other three species of tree boas (C. cookii, C. rushenbergerii, and C. hortulanus) that previously were considered to be subspecies of C. hortulanus. The commonly kept and exhibited emerald tree boa, C. caninus, is not covered in this particular volume.

The book covers species, study sites, color/pattern, size, habitat, food/foraging, predators, defensive behavior, reproduction, populations, etc.

This book is a scholarly (yet interesting and easy to read) study, and is obviously the life's work and love of the author. There are numerous useful photos, tables, and charts, as well as a very nice section of color plates. I would recommend this book to herpetologists, zookeepers, curators - or any one with a strong interest in the natural history of reptiles. The average veterinarian that sees reptiles (including boids) in his practice might be better served by another book by the same author and publisher, Kaleidoscopic Tree Boas: The Genus Corallus Of Tropical America, which discusses the entire genus plus captive husbandry.

Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, FL, USA (2002).

197 pages.

ISBN: 1-57524-038-6.