Call them "mudpuppies," "hellbenders," or "mud eels," salamanders are puzzling animals to most people. They come in forms that look like flattened fish with legs, like eels, like slimy lizards, or like lizards with toad-like skins. Their life history imitates the ancient evolutionary transition from aquatic to terrestrial vertebrates, though several groups remain permanently aquatic. Until now, no one has written about their ancient ancestors. Holman details the process of the identification and interpretation of the fossils. He presents a detailed systematic account of the known fossil salamanders of North America, illustrates and discusses the extinct salamanders, re-diagnosing or redescribing some on the basis of additional information and fossil material. He also gives the modern characteristics, ecological attributes, and modern ranges of the fossil taxa that are still living. The book begins with an overview of the Caudata and describes their early evolution. Then follow the systematic and chronological accounts of the salamanders. The book concludes with a discussion of the study of fossil salamanders as it relates to the development of a realistic phylogeny and classification of the group.

Despite being among the most versatile and interesting amphibians in North America, frogs and toads (otherwise known as anurans) have not traditionally received enough attention from science. But now, with the population of modern frogs and toads dwindling at an alarming rate, author J. Alan Holman brings together the latest research and findings about ancient anurans, expanding the world's knowledge about these fascinating creatures while there is still time to understand and save them. Comprehensive and lavishly illustrated, this essential guide provides a general account of the fossil record, a detailed account of individual anuran bones used in paleontological studies, and an epoch-by-epoch discussion of Mesozoic, Tertiary, and Pleistocene anurans and the changes they experienced throughout their evolution. The modern ranges and characteristics, ecological attributes, and diagnostic skeletal elements of fossil taxa still living are also described. A thorough overview of anuran fossil history, biology, and anatomy, Fossil Frogs and Toads of North America is an informative, accessible book for anyone interested in frogs and toads and their evolution into the animals we know today.

Did you know...?
Michigan is seventeenth in oil production in the United States. The Great Lakes are said to be the only glacially produced structures that can be seen from the moon. Michigan was once part of a coral reef. The wood frog is able to freeze solid during the winter without harmful effects.These and many more amazing facts await the curious traveler in The Michigan Roadside Naturalist, J. Alan and Margaret B. Holman's guide to the natural treasures of Michigan. A perfect accompaniment to the classic Michigan Trees and The Forests of Michigan, the user-friendly Michigan Roadside Naturalist offers a who's-who of the geology, biology, and archaeology of the Great Lakes State, as well as highway adventures along the state's major routes.
The book begins with an educational yet accessible tour of important points in the state's natural and archaeological history, followed by seven road trips based on commonly traveled routes in Michigan, moving from south to north in the Lower Peninsula and east to west in the Upper Peninsula. Readers can proceed directly to the road trips, or familiarize themselves with the state's treasure trove of fascinating features before embarking. Either way, an informative and fun odyssey awaits the passionate naturalist, amateur or otherwise.
J. Alan Holman is Curator Emeritus of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Michigan Sate University Museum and Emeritus Professor of geology and Zoology at Michigan State. He is the author of five books and hundreds of journal articles.
Margaret B. Holman is Research Associate at Michigan State University Museum and Department of Anthropology. She has a doctorate from Michigan State university.

This book, proposed as a companion volume to Professor Holman's Pleistocene Amphibians and Reptiles in North America (OUP 1995), presents, in detail, occurences of the herpetofauna in Britain and Western and Central Europe as well as discussions on the paleogeography, paleoecology, and evolution of these groups. The format follows in general that of the volume on North America, starting with an overview of the Pleistocene in Europe followed by a bestiary and chapters on identification of fossils, sites yielding fossils, range adjustments, evolutionary and extinction patterns, and origins of modern herpetofauna in Europe.