E-Book Overview
Tortoises look and are old. They are the oldest of the living land reptiles, the surviving link between animal life in water and on land. Tortoise is the first cultural history of this intriguing creature, which has existed for more than 200 million years. It covers examples of species worldwide, in evolution, myth and reality, ranging across paleontology, natural history, folklore, art forms (including the use of tortoise shell in furniture-making), literature, veterinary medicine, space research and trade regulations. We learn of its exploitation, past and present, as foodstuff; of the illegal international trade in certain species; and of the fight for its conservation.
Peter Young read history and arche-ology at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, England. He lives in Crawley, West Sussex, U.K.
E-Book Content
Tortoise Peter Young Animal series Tortoise Animal Series editor: Jonathan Burt Already published Crow Boria Sax Ant Charlotte Sleigh Cockroach Marion Copeland Forthcoming Wolf Garry Marvin Falcon Helen Macdonald Bear Robert E. Bieder Parrot Paul Carter Horse Sarah Wintle Whale Joseph Roman Spider Leslie Dick Rat Jonathan Burt Dog Susan McHugh Hare Simon Carnell Snake Drake Stutesman Bee Claire Preston Oyster Rebecca Stott Tortoise Peter Young reaktion books For Timothy Tortoise: 50 years in the family Published by reaktion books ltd 79 Farringdon Road London ec1m 3ju, uk www.reaktionbooks.co.uk First published 2003 Copyright © Peter Young, 2003 All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the p