CROCODILES. By Rodney Steel.

1989 1st edition. 4to (195 x 253mm). Ppx,198. Colour photographs, b/w illustrations, maps, bibliography. Brown boards, spine titled in gilt.

A worldwide look at the status and natural history of crocodiles and alligators. "Rodney Steel's book provides a picture of the habits and life of crocodiles which will not lessen our respect for them although it may end some misconceptions and alert us to the importance of protecting the future of these now endangered species." Contents include: Survivors of a lost world; Anatomy of a living fossil; Man-eaters, rarities and dwarves - the central crocodilian stock; Alligators and caimans - alternative evolutionary lines; Gavials and false gavials - long-snouted diversification; Crocodiles of the past; The case for conservation; Check list of principal crocodilian genera; Living crocodilian species and their common names.