Article by: Jen Young, NGRREC/L&C Marketing and PR, jenryoung@lc.edu
EAST ALTON – The National Great Rivers Research and
Education Center’s Terrestrial Ecologist John Crawford, along with co-authors
Christopher Phillips and Andrew Kuhns, recently published a field guide focusing
on Illinois amphibians and reptiles.
The second
edition of the “Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois” replaces
the first edition, published more than 20 years ago. This new edition offers
up-to-date information on the state’s 102 species of frogs and toads,
salamanders, turtles, lizards and snakes.
“We spent a
great deal of time updating the species information to incorporate new
knowledge that has been generated over the past twenty years,” Terrestrial
Ecologist John Crawford said.
Numerous
projects have been underway to better understand species distribution and the
natural history of many species in the state. The updated field guide also
provides shaded range maps, better reflecting the distribution of all
amphibians and reptiles throughout Illinois.
“We hope this
book will spark an interest in these awesome animals among the general public,”
Crawford said. “Illinois has great species diversity across the state and this
book can serve as a starting point for anyone interested in learning more.”
To order your
copy of the Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois visit https://www.press.uillinois.edu/ .
For more
information on John Crawford’s research visit http://www.ngrrec.org/Terrestrial/ .
National
Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC ℠ )
Founded in
2002 as a collaborative partnership between the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign and Lewis and Clark Community College, NGRREC is dedicated to
the study of great river systems and the communities that use them. The center
aspires to be a leader in scholarly research, education, and outreach related
to the interconnectedness of large rivers, their floodplains, watersheds, and
their associated communities. To learn more about NGRREC, visit www.ngrrec.org.