The extraordinary lives of lizards remain largely hidden from human eyes. Lizards feed, mate, lay eggs or give live birth, and carefully manage their temperatures. They struggle to survive in a complex world of predators and competitors. The nearly 700 named Australian species are divided into seven families: the dragons, monitors, skinks, flap-footed lizards and three families of geckos. Using a vast array of artful strategies, lizards have managed to find a home in virtually all terrestrial habitats.
Australian Lizards: A Natural History takes the reader on a journey through the remarkable life of lizards. It explores the places in which they live and what they eat, shows how they make use of their senses and how they control their temperatures, how they reproduce and how they defend themselves. Lavishly illustrated with more than 400 colour photographs, this book reveals behavioural aspects never before published, offering a fascinating glimpse into the unseen lives of these reptiles. It will appeal to a diverse readership, from those with a general interest in natural history to the seasoned herpetologist.
Steve K Wilson has written numerous feature articles on natural history and has authored or co-authored seven books on Australian reptiles. He holds one of the largest private libraries of Australian reptile images, as well as natural history photographs from excursions through South-East Asia, South Asia, Melanesia, Central America, Madagascar, Africa and Europe.
He has worked as an information officer at the Queensland Museum for more than 25 years, presenting talks and workshops, and acting as a liaison point between the public and curatorial staff. More recently, he has assisted the gas pipeline construction industry in devising the best methods of removing thousands of native animals trapped in long-distance pipeline trenches and collating data on their distribution.