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CHAPTER V 
COLLECTING AND PRESERVING AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES 
Francis R. Cook 
INTRODUCTION 
Reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles) and amphibians (frogs, toads, sala- 
manders, newts) form an interesting but little-studied group of vertebrate 
animals in Canada. These two classes are often referred to together as 
herptiles or herpetozoa, and their study is called herpetology. 
In Canada, 81 species of herptiles have been recorded: 42 reptiles and 39 
amphibians. Sixty-three have only one race (subspecies) in Canada, and 
each of the remaining 18 is represented by two or more subspecies. The 
total number of forms, obtained by adding all the subspecies and those species 
with only one form, is 106. A few additional forms may be added as the 
amount and thoroughness of collecting increases. However, it is probable 
that no species new to science remains undiscovered within Canada as none 
of the species currently recognized are restricted to this country, and most 
are more extensive in range, and often more abundant, south of our border. 
Further studies of variations within species will likely reduce the number of 
valid subspecies. 
Collections of Canadian herptiles, although not adding to the description 
of new taxa, are needed to further studies in variation, distribution, and life 
history. Detailed information about a species' distribution is basic for 
determination of the factors which restrict it, and museum specimens whose 
identity may be verified are the only sound basis for such information. 
Studies of variation within a species should be compiled from series of at least 
20 specimens of each size and age class per locality taken from throughout 
the species range. Such studies often reveal differences between geo- 
graphically separated populations which provide, even when the differences 
are not sufficient to warrant subspecific status for these populations, evidence 
important in zoogeographical and ecological studies. The number of series 
sufficient to give a true picture of variations within any one species can only 
be determined by the amount and distribution of the variations. Similarly, 
variations in life history may be determined from series. In other studies, 
involving only field observations or laboratory experiments, a few specimens 
should also be preserved so that the species or race to which the study pertains 
may be verified. 
The National Museum of Canada needs additional material for its 
herptile collection to supplement that collected in its own systematic surveys 
of Canadian species. Further information is given under Shipping. 
Many guide books provide notes on collecting and preserving reptiles and 
amphibians. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a more complete 
summary of the different techniques which have been used, together with an 
extensive bibliography of original papers on these subjects. A selected list 
of references provides the important handbooks and general texts necessary 
to identify Canadian species and to provide background information for their 
study. As yet there is no comprehensive book on the reptiles and amphibians 
of Canada, but one is in preparation. 
