Mattison's second entry in Facts On File's splendid generic natural history series is every bit as satisfying as the first, Snakes of the World (Booklist 82:1346 My 15 86). After an introductory consideration of that most vexing and problematic amphibian query, ``Frogs or Toads?'' (there are, it turns out, no rigidly definitive answers), Mattison devotes separate chapters to morphology, physiology, survival strategies, feeding, reproduction, typical life cycles, distribution, interactions with humans, and the biological families of frog/toad species. The preponderance of the hundred plates that illustrate are in thoroughly appealing color. Bibliography and index. RO. 597.8 Frogs / Toads [CIP] 87-15615

Naturalist and author-photographer Mattison (The New Encyclopedia of Snakes, CH, Apr'08, 45-4133; Lizards of the World, CH, Apr'90, 27-4517, etc.) has once again produced an excellent book related to his specialization in amphibians and reptiles. This volume is a colorful, entertaining overview of many of the nearly 6,000 species of frogs worldwide. Mattison characterizes anurans in the introduction and follows this with ten information-packed chapters. Chapter 1 covers frog origins and classification, followed by frog size, shape, and coloration in chapter 2. Later chapters discuss environmental interactions, enemies and defense mechanisms, food and feeding, reproduction, life cycles, and habitats and distribution. The book discusses interactions with humans and concludes with a chapter on frog families of the world. A list of sources for additional reading is available at the end of the book. All chapters are superbly illustrated with high-quality color photographs not frequently seen in books on animals. It is an accurate, reasonably current, and easily comprehended volume far superior to the author's 1987 work with the same title (CH, Jul'88). Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic, secondary school, and public libraries. E. D. Keiser emeritus, University of Mississippi