Delaware Nature Society

Nature Store

Amphibians and Reptiles of Delmarva
by James F. White, Jr. & Amy Wendt White

- Field guide
- Paperback
- 296 pp.
- 73 species
- 96 color photos
- maps, glossary, checklist
- Published in association with Delaware Nature Society by Tidewater Publishers, 2003
- $14.95

Jim White and Amy Wendt White, a husband-and-wife team from the Delaware Nature Society, spent nearly 15 years combing the region's swamps, woods, and fields. The result of their work is Amphibians and Reptiles of Delmarva listing 73 species.

Each species account containing a detailed description of physical characteristics, comparisons to similar species, and information on the geographical distribution, abundance, habitat, reproduction and development, and behavior. From skinks to snakes, from turtles to frogs, this compact but thorough reference gathers vital information about the Delmarva Peninsula's herpetofauna. Herpetology is the branch of zoology dealing with amphibians (salamanders and frogs) and reptiles (turtles, lizards, and snakes).

In 1986, Jim White, associate director of land and biodiversity management for the Delaware Nature Society, became a principal investigator in a herpetological survey of the state; this research eventually formed the basis for the field guide published recently by Tidewater Publishers in association with the Delaware Nature Society. Amy White, who is a teacher-naturalist at the Nature Society, often accompanied her husband on early expeditions. A concerted effort to organize and write the guide commenced in 1998 as Amy became more involved with the entire project. "We hope the book instills a strong conservation ethic in the area's residents, an ethic that leads to better protection of these animals and the habitats in which they live," the authors said.

The field guide has already garnered tremendous accolades, including praise from Roger Conant, esteemed Director Emeritus of the Philadelphia Zoo and one of the country's foremost herpetologists. "As a book on the herpetology of a small geographic area, this publication is the most complete and thorough of any I have seen," said Dr. Conant, author of the Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. "Every species and subspecies is described in meticulous detail, and the splendid photographs make identification easy."

Given its size, the Delmarva Peninsula - encompassing all of Delaware, the northeast corner of Maryland and its Eastern Shore, and the eastern shore of Virginia - boasts a rich array of amphibians and reptiles. However, Delmarva's herpetofauna is often overlooked by the vast majority of people living in the area. Many have never heard a northern spring peeper call or seen a salamander, even though a breeding chorus of peepers is common in the spring, and salamanders are residents of most woodlands in Delmarva. Misconceptions also abound. For example, people sometimes think they have seen "cottonmouths" (water moccasins) on Delmarva, even though this venomous species is not known to occur north of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Misidentification of species, especially of snakes, is common, Amy White said. "Fear and misunderstanding lead some people to mistake harmless snakes as venomous and they kill them needlessly."

The field guide will be useful to a wide variety of people interested in these fascinating creatures Ñ from the curious child who brings home a salamander to students, experienced naturalists, and professionals in need of life history, behavioral, and distributional information. "This landmark field guide is an invaluable tool in our mission to educate children and adults about the natural world," said Michael E. Riska, executive director of the Delaware Nature Society. "It will generate interest in Delmarva's fascinating amphibians and reptiles and encourage conservation of all of our native animals and plants and their habitats."

A skilled nature photographer, Jim White routinely captures many species and their environs on film. More than 90 of his pictures are collected in the guide's full-color plate section, which serves as a valuable tool for identifying various amphibians and reptiles. "Dealing with tough environmental conditions often made the photography challenging," Jim said, referring specifically to photographing frogs. Jim often stood in water up to his hips, usually at night, sometimes in the rain, and crept as close as he could to the frogs without scaring them away. "Then you have to wait for the frog to call and try to get a good photograph with its throat expanded. It takes a lot of effort and luck."

Jim's favorite species included in the guide is the bright green Barking Treefrog - which graces the book's cover - because he was the first to discover a breeding population of these frogs on Delmarva and has spent much time researching this species. Amy's favorite is the warty brown Bufo americanus americanus, or more commonly the American Toad, because it serves as a harbinger of spring and is easier to catch than most other frogs. But handlers beware: it secretes a powerful toxin that can be quite unpleasant if it is ingested or comes in contact with the eyes.

Both Jim and Amy White earned degrees from the University of Delaware: Jim in entomology and applied ecology and Amy in environmental engineering. They are members of the Delaware Ornithological Society and Delaware Natural History Society. Jim is also a member of Delaware Partners in Flight and Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

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