Buying guide for Best reptile and amphibian field guides
For children, identifying animals is easy because they only care about what the animal is: "That's a frog." However, as an adult with a deeper interest in amphibians and the world around you, the task becomes a bit more difficult. In the United States alone, there are roughly 90 different species of frogs. You need better ways to classify animals than the words "green” and “ribbit"! A good reptile and amphibian field guide helps you do exactly that.
A reptile and amphibian field guide is a fun book that can be used to learn about the world around you. For general use, you can thumb through the pages and read about the different species. And if you see a snake slither beneath your front porch, you can grab your handy field guide and look it up. These field guides are full of illustrations, descriptions, and lots of fun facts about the animals you might come across.
Learn more about reptile and amphibian field guides so you know what to look for as you shop.
Focus area
The first aspects you need to consider when purchasing a reptile and amphibian field guide are the location and size of the area you’d like to cover.
Regional
The best reptile and amphibian field guides are smaller in scope. They can be thorough because they target a specific region. There may be over 10,000 species of reptiles in the world, but there are fewer than 600 species in the United States. However, in New Jersey, there are only about 70 species of both reptiles and amphibians, so a field guide that focuses on New Jersey is able to list every single animal. A field guide of the United States would only have room for a sampling or else the guide would be too large to carry with you into the field.
North America
As noted above, due to space restrictions, a field guide for a large region, such as North America, will not be comprehensive. It’s highly possible you could see a salamander in the field that is different from every salamander in your field guide. In and of itself, this isn’t a bad thing. A field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians can give you a much broader education about the animal kingdom, making it a better reference guide than a more localized field guide.
Other locales
If you’re interested in learning about animals that you might not ever see in the wild, it’s possible to get field guides that feature reptiles and amphibians from other countries or exotic locales.
Features of reptile and amphibian field guides
After deciding if you'd like a regional field guide or something larger in scope, there are a few other elements to consider.
Age range and purpose
Almost as important as knowing if you'd like a regional field guide is knowing who the field guide is for and why. A reptile and amphibian field guide for a young child who is just learning about animals is much different than one for an adult who wants to identify specific reptiles and amphibians in the region.
Size
The size of your reptile and amphibian field guide may not seem like a big deal, but if you want to stick it in your back pocket while hiking, you'll quickly discover that there are very real limitations. Be sure to check the dimensions of your field guide to be certain it will fit in your pocket (if that’s what you desire) and be light enough to carry.
Expert tip
Look for a field guide that is portable and easy to carry around with you when on a hike.
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Illustrations
Since you will be using your reptile and amphibian field guide to identify animals that you see in the wild, you want plenty of photos and artwork detailing different views or characteristics of each reptile or amphibian, and the more the better. If you have trouble determining colors and markings in the illustrations, you may find it impossible to accurately identify the species that you see.
Maps
Maps can help you quickly narrow down the species because they reveal where an animal can be found. You might think you've discovered an alligator snapping turtle in your backyard, but when you check the map, you'll see you're too far north of that animal’s range. With a bit of quick research, you can discover it's a common snapping turtle (which you’ll also learn is actually more aggressive and more likely to snap at you).
Seasons
Just like the maps, a list of seasonal occurrences lets you quickly know which reptiles and amphibians you’re most likely to see in each season.
Other information
Some reptile and amphibian field guides are encyclopedic in their information while others provide only cursory background details. Choose the type of field guide you prefer so that you aren’t disappointed.
Expert tip
If possible, purchase a field guide that is specific to your region or area. This guide will often include more specific information that is relevant to where you live.
BestReviews Book Expert
Accessories
If you're interested in a reptile and amphibian field guide, there are a few other items you may want to consider purchasing in order to have the best experience.
Binoculars
Nikon 7577 MONARCH 5 Binoculars
Good binoculars can help you scope out some of the reptiles you might not want to get too close to. The Nikon MONARCH 5 binoculars offer sharp views and a range of user-friendly features.
Monocular
Wingspan Optics Monocular
If you're watching your budget, a monocular is a more affordable option than binoculars. This dustproof, waterproof model has one-handed focus and gives you 12x magnification.
Camera
Canon EOS Rebel T5 SLR Camera
You'll want to document the reptiles and amphibians you see, so you'll need a high-quality camera that can take those award-winning photos.
Waders
TideWe Bootfoot Chest Waders
Depending on how wet or swampy the area is that you want to explore, waders can help keep you dry and warm. These chest waders have sturdy buckles and attached boots.
Tips
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Familiarize yourself with the guide. The first step to successfully using a reptile and amphibian field guide is to learn what it contains and understand how it works.
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Observe. When you spot an animal in the field, don’t immediately grab your field guide. Instead, gather as much information as you can and commit it to memory before the animal leaves.
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Research. Don’t stop at the first picture that resembles what you see. Go deeper into the guide and consider all the possibilities. Remember that identifying a species is a narrowing down process: start broad and eliminate possibilities until you hone in on exactly what it is you’re seeing. Be careful that you don't adjust your observations to fit within the parameters of what is already in the field guide just so you can give what you see a name.
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Check the maps. Always check the maps listed in your field guide to make certain the reptile or amphibian you’re trying to identify is actually in your region.
- Check the time of year. Don’t forget to check the seasonal occurrence section to see what time of year certain species are in your region.
FAQ
Q. Who uses a reptile and amphibian field guide?
A. Anyone with a general curiosity about nature would be interested in a reptile and amphibian field guide. Whether it's a unusual-looking salamander or a snake you haven't seen before, these handy guides can help you identify the reptiles and amphibians you encounter in your region. Besides being an engaging hobby, a reptile and amphibian field guide can be used to identify potentially dangerous species, too.
Expert tip
Look at the year that the field guide was published. If it was published over 20 years ago, you may want to look for a guide that was published more recently as it will often provide more up-to-date information.
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Q. With the prevalence of digital photography, why do so many field guides still use drawings?
A. A drawing is far more capable of emphasizing specific details than a photograph. Information that isn’t needed can be deemphasized or simply not included so the animal's field marks can be highlighted. In a drawing, an animal can be depicted in an ideal pose or from an angle that is unlikely to be photographed in the wild. In short, a drawing simply has a greater educational value than a photograph.
Q. Why do I need a field guide if I have an app that identifies animals when I take a picture?
A. While apps can be very useful, they aren’t the best solution for identifying a particular creature you may encounter in nature. Apps use the animal's general appearance and take a guess. It’s up to the user to decide if the app is correct. A field guide is designed so you can hone in with great precision and be absolutely certain you know what you’re seeing.
