Sierra Nevada Natural History

California Natural History Guides #73

by Tracy Irwin Storer, Robert L. Usinger, David Lukas

The magnificent and much-loved Sierra Nevada, called the "Range of Light" by John Muir, is the dominant feature on the California landscape. First published forty years ago, this handbook has become an enduring natural history classic, used by thousands to learn more about virtually every aspect of this spectacular mountain range―from its superb flora and fauna to its rugged topography. Comprehensive yet concise and portable, the book describes hundreds of trees and shrubs, flowering plants and ferns, fungi and lichens, insects and fish, amphibians and reptiles, and birds and mammals. Now completely updated and revised, it will continue to be the essential guide to the Sierra Nevada for a new generation of hikers, campers, tourists, naturalists, students, and teachers―everyone who wants to know more about this unique and beautiful mountain range.

* Describes more than 750 of the species most likely to be encountered with more than 500 new color photographs and 218 detailed black-and-white drawings

* Includes engaging and accessible introductory sections on Sierra Nevada topography, climate, geological history, and human history

* The compact, updated species accounts make identification easy, provide informative remarks on ecology and life history, and note which species are threatened or endangered

Genres: Reference, Science, Natural History, Nonfiction, Nature

592 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

1889-1973

Reviews

[Sophie Pesek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up for $1 at the OMCA white elephant sale. Lovely illustrations for a 1963 book!

[Scott Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book describes the plants and animals of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. The most interesting section for me was the ecological distribution (and association) section in the front of the book.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very valuable reference for anyone traveling through the Sierra range. Easy to use and full of good information. An all-purpose field guide for those who only want to carry one book.