The author would like to thank the following individuals whose support and contributions helped to make this book possible.
Dr. Harold Harlan, Director, Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Silver Springs, Maryland ( USA), for his general support of the idea of revising and updating this book; and especially for providing a list of references used in the construction of the AFPMB Living Hazards Database, along with permission to use data found on the AFPMB Living Hazards Database. Dr. David Bates, Toxinology Department, Womens and Childrens Hospital, North Adelaide (Australia) for permission to access the Clinical Toxinology Resources website. From the Kentucky Reptile Zoo and Venom Laboratory in Slade, Kentucky (USA), Jim Harrison and Kristin Wiley assisted with photographing that facilities venomous snake collection and provided valuable advice, support, and encouragement throughout this project. In addition these two individuals were a valuable source of information and advice in the writing of chapters 4 and 5 which deal with snakebite first aid and treatment of venomous bites. Other staff members from the Kentucky Reptile Zoo who contributed to this effort were Taylor Tevis, Mike Lee, Peter Lindsey, Rachel Beasley, and Jackie Swapp. Tony Phelps of the Cape Reptile Institute in South Africa for suppling photos of most of the African snakes in this book and for suppling photos of additional Viperidae species. Dr. Pedro Barnardo of the Royal Ontario Museum (Canada) for suppling reference material and photos. Dr. Anita Mulhotra of Bangor University in the United Kingdom for forwarding papers on the Trimeresurus and Ovophis genus, and for advice on the current taxonomy of the Trimeresurus genus, as well as for providing photos of Asian Viperidae. From the Reptile Discovery Center in Deland, Florida (USA), Carl Barden and Tom Chesley for permission and assistance in photographing specimens at that facility. Dr. Gernot Vogel of Germany for advice on the taxonomy of some Asian pit vipers and for bringing to my attention a number of useful reference materials. Herm Mayes of the Cincinnati Museum (USA) for helping locate photographs.
Other important contributions in the form of photographs were made by David Hegner of the Czech Republic; Daniel Jablonski of Herpetolgie a cestovani; from Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, SD (USA), Joe Maierhouser; Ed Cassano of Clermont, Florida (USA); Sameer Ghodke, Maharashtra, India, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands Environmental Team; Ann Devon-Song, School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong; Michael Cota from the Natural History Museum/ National Science Museum of Thailand; Dr. Bruno Gattolin of St. Marcellin, France; Rob Schell from Richmond, California (USA); Roger S. Thorpe, United Kingdom; Raman Upadye, Maharashtra, India; Chris Carille Photography, Bailey McKay, Dick Bartlett, and Nancy-Smith Jones.
Finally, a sincere thanks is due to those at Skyhorse Publishing who helped make this book possible. Thanks to my editor, Jason Katzman, for his patience and counsel during the writing of this book, and to Nick Grant, whose hard work on the layout and design of Venomous Snakes of the World made it look better than I could have ever imagined.
Central Asian Cobra, Naja oxiana