摘要
Currently nine families of tailed amphibians, including 682 species, are recognised in the world. Five of these families, including some 166 species, occur in the Old World （Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa）. The family of hynobiid salamanders （hynobiidae） is endemic to this region, whereas the other families also are represented in the New World （America）. Salamanders of the Old Worm is a comprehensive monograph authored by Max Sparreboom. With this book, which aims to be an up- date of Robert Thorn＇s book of 1969, the author presents updated information on salamander species diversity in this region. The book is bound to become a classic in its field： it contains descriptions of all five families and 166 salamander species, a taxonomical diagnosis, distribution maps, and a wealth of information on habitat preferences, behaviour, threats, conservation, etc. Every species chapter is followed by a comment by the author and references to technical literature. For many species the biological information comes from the author himself, who made observations of behaviour in aquariums and in the field. This knowledge is supplemented with information from the scientific literature, which is synthesized in a systematic way. What will especially appeal to the reader is the great number of beautiful pictures in the text, showing details of morphological characters, habitat and bebaviour in the different life history stages. These features add to the value of the book, both in scientific and artistic aspects.
Currently nine families of tailed amphibians, including 682 species, are recognised in the world. Five of these families, including some 166 species, occur in the Old World （Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa）. The family of hynobiid salamanders （hynobiidae） is endemic to this region, whereas the other families also are represented in the New World （America）. Salamanders of the Old Worm is a comprehensive monograph authored by Max Sparreboom. With this book, which aims to be an up- date of Robert Thorn＇s book of 1969, the author presents updated information on salamander species diversity in this region. The book is bound to become a classic in its field： it contains descriptions of all five families and 166 salamander species, a taxonomical diagnosis, distribution maps, and a wealth of information on habitat preferences, behaviour, threats, conservation, etc. Every species chapter is followed by a comment by the author and references to technical literature. For many species the biological information comes from the author himself, who made observations of behaviour in aquariums and in the field. This knowledge is supplemented with information from the scientific literature, which is synthesized in a systematic way. What will especially appeal to the reader is the great number of beautiful pictures in the text, showing details of morphological characters, habitat and bebaviour in the different life history stages. These features add to the value of the book, both in scientific and artistic aspects.
