Reptiles: Deluxe Series

Packed with sumptuous photography, this is one of the first titles in the

new and lavish ‘Deluxe’ natural history series from Reed New Holland. The

images celebrate the beauty and marvellous design of some of our most

misunderstood animals, the reptiles. They share a magnificence and elegance

that we are now beginning to really appreciate. They are, in the true sense

of the word, awesome! The images have stories to tell. A gecko with padded

toes dashes across vertical glass, seeming to mock the laws of gravity as

it moves effortlessly over that smooth surface. In just a fraction of a

second a chameleon unleashes its tongue, a high- velocity projectile, with

the accuracy of a marksman to snatch an insect from a twig a body’s length

away. In a powerful test of strength and endurance, two great Komodo

Dragons, the largest living lizards, rise on their hind limbs and try to

topple each other in a meeting of muscles and scaly hides. Stunning shots

of snakes, lizards, crocodiles and turtles from around the world are

brought together via a foreword from expert herpetologist Steve Wilson, who

explains why reptiles are such an ongoing success story, having been around

for 200 million years and with 12,000 extant species adapted to habitats as

varied as arctic tundra, deserts, rainforests and open oceans. All in all

‘Reptiles’ is a glorious memento of a fascinating subject, brought together

in a luxurious book that celebrates the many astonishing reptile species

from all around the planet, making it ideal for nature lovers, as a gift,

or as an interior design feature in any home.