Their Blood Runs Cold: Adventures With Reptiles and Amphibians

by Whit Gibbons, J. Whitfield Gibbons

Their Blood Runs Cold is entertaining, informative reading that not only enhances our understanding of a unique group of animals, but also provides genuine insight into the mind and character of a research scientist.Whit Gibbons possesses the rare talent of conveying the challenge and excitement of scientific inquiry. A research ecologist who specializes in the study of reptiles and amphibians, he gives accounts of work in the field that are as readable as good short stories.From the dangers of being chased by an angry rattlesnake to the exhilaration of discovering a previously undescribed species, Gibbons brings to life the everyday experiences of the herpetologist as he chases down lizards, turtles, snakes, alligators, salamanders, and frogs in their natural habitats. With essays like “Turtles May Be Slow but They’re 200 Million Years Ahead of Us” and “How to Catch an Alligator in One Uneasy Lesson,” Their Blood Runs Cold both entertains and informs.The thirtieth anniversary edition of Their Blood Runs Cold features a new prologue and epilogue, additions that address changes in the taxonomy and study of reptiles and amphibians that have occurred since the publication of the original edition and offer suggestions for further reading that highlight the explosion of interest in the topic.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Science

164 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Also published under J. Whitfield Gibbons: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of uneven quality. When Gibbons is telling crazy stories, he's hilarious and an all-around blast. When he's starts lecturing or preaching, he's something of a mildly benevolent bore. Still fun, and a good read-aloud if skimming isn't against your religion.

[Jordan Clemans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapters were hit or miss. But ultimately a few especially entertaining stories made it a worthwhile read.

[Turtleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Their Blood Runs Cold is a mixture of basic information about the main groups of amphibians and reptiles (frogs, salamanders, turtles, snakes, and lizards) along with stories from the author who had a long and illustrious career as a herpetologist in the southeastern US. The books in now more than 40 years old, but most of the basic info still holds up. The best parts of the book are stories by Gibbons about various adventures working with amphibians and reptiles. And the best story in the book is about Gibbons and his assistant trying to catch an alligator and get it into the back of a pick-up.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and engaging. I'm just bad at reading non-fiction. Would recommend if have any interest in herptology.

[Nathan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent, I particularly recommend the alligator story in Chapter 4, it's a hoot. Otherwise, check out my brothers Chris's review, spot on.

[Calvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colorful and amusing accounts of field herpetology. Not a dull read by any means. I would recommend it to anyone, whether or not they think they have any interest in herpetology or biology.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic Book, I could relate to Dr. Gibbon's field experiences. I recommend it not only to biologists but people with an interest in the outdoors.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting anecdotes, but also there is a lot of old out of date "just collect everything you find". Conservation has advanced extensively since this book was published.