David C. Rostal is a professor in the Department of Biology at Georgia Southern University. Earl D. McCoy is the associate chairman of the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of South Florida. Henry R. Mushinsky is a Kosove Graduate Professor and graduate director for the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of South Florida.

• PrefaceChapter 1. Morphology, Taxonomy, and Distribution of North American Tortoises: An Evolutionary PerspectiveChapter 2. The Fossil Record for the North American TortoisesChapter 3. Systematics of Extant North American TortoisesChapter 4. Thermoregulation and Energetics of North American TortoisesChapter 5. Reproductive Physiology of North American Tortoises Chapter 6. Embryonic Development, Hatching Success, and Temperature Dependent Sex Determination in North American Tortoises Chapter 7. Growth Patterns of North American TortoisesChapter 8. Health Issues of North American TortoisesChapter 9. Habitat Characteristics of North American TortoisesChapter 10. Water and Food Acquisition and Their Consequences for Life History and Metabolism of North American TortoisesChapter 11. Home Range and Movements of North American TortoisesChapter 12. Social Behaviors of North American TortoisesChapter 13. Nesting and Reproductive Output among North American TortoisesChapter 14. Abundance of North American TortoisesChapter 15. Population and Conservation Genetics of North American TortoisesChapter 16. Demography of North American TortoisesChapter 17. History of Human Interaction with North American TortoisesChapter 18. Threats and Conservation Needs for North American Tortoises ReferencesIndex

A vital tool and reference base for researchers and conservationists, with the added bonus that there is plenty of informatin that could be applied to other species worldwide. -- Christine Tilley British Chelonia Group A valuable resource for public and academic libraries. Choice ... Valuable additions to the collections of herpetologists and conservation biologists... Comprehensive... The Quarterly Review of Biology