Invasive Pythons in the United States: Ecology of an Introduced Predator

כריכה קדמית
University of Georgia Press, 2011 - 156 עמודים

Most people think of pythons as giant snakes in distant tropical jungles, but Burmese pythons, which can reach lengths of over twenty feet and weigh over two hundred pounds, are now thriving in southern Florida.

These natives of Asia are commonly kept as pets and presumably escaped or were released in the Everglades. Pythons are now common in this region; widespread throughout hundreds of square miles, they are breeding and appear to be expanding their range. Pythons are voracious predators that feed on a variety of native wildlife including wading birds, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and even alligators. Their presence has drawn dramatic media attention and stoked fears among the public that pythons may threaten not just native species but humans as well.

Despite this widespread concern, information on pythons has been limited to a few scientific publications and news coverage that varies widely in fact and accuracy. With Invasive Pythons in the United States, Michael E. Dorcas and John D. Willson provide the most reliable, up-to-date, and scientifically grounded information on invasive pythons. Filled with over two hundred color photographs and fifteen figures and maps, the book will help general readers and the scientific community better understand these fascinating animals and their troubling presence in the United States.

Features information on

  • general python biology
  • biology of Burmese pythons in their native range
  • research on pythons in the United States
  • history and status of introduced pythons in Florida
  • risks pythons pose in Florida and elsewhere
  • methods to control python populations
  • other boas and pythons that may become or are already established in the United States
 

עמודים נבחרים

תוכן

Chapter 1
8
Chapter 2
22
Chapter 3
40
Chapter 4
56
Chapter 5
104
Chapter 6
120
Chapter 7
128
Further Reading
144
Acknowledgments
147
Photo Credits
149
Index
151
זכויות יוצרים

מונחים וביטויים נפוצים

African pythons African rock pythons American alligators animals aquatic areas ball pythons basking become established behavior biologists bivittatus boa constrictors boas and pythons Bob Reed body temperatures brown treesnakes Burmese pythons captivity cold consuming densities Dorcas ecology ecosystems eggs escaped Everglades National Park feed feet female python Florida pythons Gordon Rodda green anaconda habitats hatch humans impacts imported Indian python individuals invasive Burmese pythons invasive pythons invasive species Keoladeo National Park Key Largo killed large constrictors large numbers large pythons lizards male mammals mangrove native range owners pet pythons pet trade Photographs on pages potential predators probably Python molurus python population python Python python research pythons captured pythons in Florida pythons in South radiotelemetry regions released reported reproduction reptile reticulated pythons risk road scientists Skip Snow South Carolina South Florida southern Florida subspecies thons tropical typically United wild pythons yellow anacondas

מידע על המחבר (2011)

Michael E. Dorcas is a professor of biology at Davidson College. He is the author of six previous books including, with coauthor Whit Gibbons, Snakes of the Southeast and Frogs and Toads of the Southeast (both Georgia). John D. Willson is a postdoctoral research associate at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. He has published exten­sively on snake ecology and serves as a section editor for Snake Natural History notes in the journal Herpetological Review.

מידע ביבליוגרפי

כותרתInvasive Pythons in the United States: Ecology of an Introduced Predator
Wormsloe Foundation nature book
מאתMichael E. Dorcas, John D. Willson
מהדורהמאויר
הוצאהUniversity of Georgia Press, 2011
ISBN0820338354, 9780820338354
אורך156 עמודים
  
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