Rattlesnake identification photo by: Leslie Bigos
The following Reptile and Amphibian Identification resources may be useful to you during and after the Wenatchee Naturalist course:
Amphibians of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Lone Pine, Redmond, Washington. 175 pp. Corkran, C. C. and C. Thoms updated 2020. This field guide covers the amphibians of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. It features introductory information on amphibians, how to handle and measure amphibians, how to photograph amphibians and habitat information. The individual species accounts include identification information for each life stage, including eggs, hatchlings, larvae and metamorphosed juveniles and adults, as well as a description of typical habitat and a generalized distribution map. The information is concise and easy to understand.
Amphibians of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, Washington. Jones, L.L.C., W.P. Leonard and D.H. Olson (Coordinating Editors). 2005. This recently published field guide is now available in stores.
Amphibians of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society The Trailside Series, Seattle, Washington. 169 pp. Leonard, W.P., H.A. Brown, L.L.C. Jones, K.R. McAllister and R.M. Storm. 1993. This book covers the amphibian species that occur in Washington and Oregon. It includes introductory information on amphibians, a description of each species highlighting the most important identification features, similar species, distribution information, habits and habitats and remarks. There are also generalized distribution maps for each species. The accounts are concise and easy to understand. Identification information focuses on the larval and terrestrial forms (adults and juveniles). The photographs are excellent and show the variation found in each species. Photographs and information on amphibian egg and tadpole identification is limited.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University of Idaho Press, Moscow, Idaho. 332 pp. Nussbaum, R.A., E.D. Brodies, Jr., and R.M. Storm. 1983. This book is the most technical of the field guides available for the Northwest. The introduction includes information on collecting and observing amphibians and reptiles, care in captivity and the composition and origin of the herpetofauna of the region. The main text includes identification keys and detailed information on identification traits, variation, life history, distribution dot maps, a large section of general references and literature cited. This book remains a must for the serious herpetologist even with all the changes that have occurred in the last twenty years. The distribution maps, though excellent for conveying a general sense of species’ ranges, are somewhat dated.
Reptiles of the Northwest: California to Alaska, Rockies to the Coast. Lone Pine Publishing. 272 pp. St. John, Alan. 2021. This field guide covers the reptile species that occur from California to southern Alaska and from the Great Divide to the Pacific Coast. It includes general information about reptiles, reptile habitats in the northwest, field study techniques and identification keys in the form of “Quick Keys.” For each of the 42 species covered, information is presented on identification, variation found within the species, similar species, distribution, habitat and behavior, as well as a variety of photographs. This field guide differs from other field guides by including field notes and personal anecdotes from the author.
Reptiles of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society The Trailside Series, Seattle, Washington. 176 pp. Storm, R.M. and W. P. Leonard, W.P. (Coordinating Editors). 2016. This field guide covers the reptile species that occur in Washington and Oregon. It includes introductory information on reptiles, a description of each species highlighting the most important identification features, similar species, distribution information, habits and habitats and remarks. There are also generalized distribution maps for each species. The accounts are concise and easy to understand. The photographs are excellent and show the types of variation found in each species, as well as important identification traits.
A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 3nd Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 533 pp. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. This is a field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Western North America. The introduction features basic information on amphibians and reptiles including information on collecting and observing, care in captivity, field study and protection. It contains identification keys, distinguishing characteristics of each species, a large number of illustrations and color plates, information on family groups, similar species, range, habitats, basic life history, and sex and age differences. There are also generalized distribution maps for each species.
Selected Websites:
- Woodland Park’s Zoo’s overview of reptile and amphibian biology
- The Washington Herpetofaunal Atlas Project is a cooperative project of the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and US Forest Service (USFS). The Washington Herp Atlas purpose is to provide the most current information available on Washington’s herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles, or “herps”) including information on life history, habitat, status, threats, management concerns and distribution.
- Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife image gallery.
- Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Northwest. This section of the CaliforniaHerps.com website contains life history accounts and sounds for most of our Washington species.
- Burke Museum Collections. Images and species descriptions for Washington’s reptiles and amphibians.