Toad-headed Turtles of the Genus Mesoclemmys: Distribution, Natural History, Husbandry

Description:

Stephan Ettmar's monograph combines a scientific overview of the species currently classified in the genus Mesoclemmys with detailed husbandry information. Fieldwork in South America has been incorporated, as well as the examination of relevant museum specimens. The comprehensive husbandry tips (from the enclosure and technical aspects to feeding) also make the book a valuable resource for keepers of other aquatic turtle genera.

Preparations for this book spanned over a decade and included research trips to Brazil, French Guiana, and Paraguay. For the manuscript, scientific collections at museums in Dresden, London, Paris, and Vienna, as well as the CRI in Oviedo, Florida, and the INPA in Manaus, Brazil, were consulted. Furthermore, visits to private and public live animal collections in Brazil, Germany, French Guiana, Austria, Paraguay, the Czech Republic, and the USA provided additional knowledge about the diversity of chelids and further information on successful captive husbandry. Although the author's primary research interest lies in the ecology of Neotropical chelids, he keeps and breeds other turtles, fish, and invertebrates as a hobby.