Background
John C. Murphy was born on February 20, 1947, in Joliet, Illinois, United States. He is the son of John C. and Mary Margaret (Rossi) Murphy.
1263 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901, United States
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
South Suburbs, 1 University Pkwy, University Park, IL 60484, United States
Governors State University
(Tales of Giant Snakes examines the natural history of fou...)
Tales of Giant Snakes examines the natural history of four species of snakes known to exceed 20 feet in length. Based on the writings of explorers, missionaries, scientists, and adventurers over the past 200 years, the authors have pieced together exciting and informative glimpses into the lives of these legless giants. Included are chapters on where they are found (often around human habitations), what they eat (includes crocodiles, deer, and cows), how big do they really get (a controversial subject), attacks on humans (rare), exploitation by humans for their skins, and conservation. The book is illustrated with photos, historical lithographs, maps, and graphs.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0894649957/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i3
1997
(This is the only book dealing with the entire herpetofaun...)
This is the only book dealing with the entire herpetofauna of Trinidad and Tobago, covering 130 species and subspecies as well as the environment of the two islands and the natural history of the herpetofauna. The book contains illustrated keys, 111 range maps, 101 line drawings and figures, and 172 color photographs. More than 90% of the forms are illustrated in color.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/089464971X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i4
1997
(Homalopsid snakes are aquatic rear-fanged snakes that inh...)
Homalopsid snakes are aquatic rear-fanged snakes that inhabit freshwater, brackish water, and marine environments from Pakistan's Indus River eastward to Queensland, Australia. While a few live in flowing streams with clear water and rocky bottoms, most live in the muddy habitats created by Himalayan silt flowing to the seas of Southeast Asia. Many feeds on fish, but a few have adapted to feeding on crustaceans and some are commensal with crustaceans living in their burrows. The Indochinese Peninsula and Sunda Shelf contain the greatest species diversity, and the history of these snakes is closely tied to the changing landscape of Southeast Asia. Homalopsid Snakes, Evolution in the Mud is the only available book on these aquatic reptiles and the first comprehensive review of the group in 35 years. It contains species accounts, summaries of the author's fieldwork, and photographs of the snakes and their morphology which can only be found in this book.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1575242591/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i6
2007
(Hundreds of thousands of dogs are bitten each year by ven...)
Hundreds of thousands of dogs are bitten each year by venomous snakes. Dogs and Snakes: Avoiding the Bite looks at the problem and suggests ways you can reduce the odds of a dog-snake encounter, describes what to do should a snakebite occur, and what you can expect while your dog is being treated for a snakebite.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/151205870X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i5
2016
(For both the casual observer and the experienced naturali...)
For both the casual observer and the experienced naturalist, this indispensable field guide and natural history reference cover all the salamanders, frogs, spadefoots, toads, lizards, snakes, tortoises, and turtles in Arizona. Over 200 stunning photographs, accompanied by range maps, show key details of identification. Fascinating life history and behavior accounts will leave the reader amazed at the biodiversity of Arizona, where the convergence of the ponderosa forests and subalpine meadows of the Colorado Plateau with the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Mojave deserts has resulted in unique herpetofauna. Days are dominated by an astonishing variety of lizards; at night, by Gila monsters, geckos, and snakes. And when the summer monsoon sets in, the desert night comes alive with millions of toads and spadefoots.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1642554847/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i2
2017
(Snakes, particularly venomous snakes and exceptionally la...)
Snakes, particularly venomous snakes and exceptionally large constricting snakes, have haunted the human brain for a millennium. They appear to be responsible for our excellent vision, as well as the anxiety we feel. Despite the dangers we faced in prehistory, snakes now hold clues to solving some of humankind’s most debilitating diseases. Pythons and boas are capable of eating prey that is equal to more than their body weight, and their adaptations for this are providing insight into diabetes. Fascination with snakes has also drawn many to keep them as pets, including the largest species. Their popularity in the pet trade has led to these large constrictors inhabiting southern Florida. This book explores what we know about the largest snakes, how they are kept in captivity, and how they have managed to traverse ocean barriers with our help.
https://www.amazon.com/Giant-Snakes-John-C-Murphy/dp/164516232X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=john+c.+murphy&qid=1577449832&sr=8-1
2019
John C. Murphy was born on February 20, 1947, in Joliet, Illinois, United States. He is the son of John C. and Mary Margaret (Rossi) Murphy.
When John Murphy studied at elementary school, he read Snake Hunters Holiday by William Bridges and Raymond Ditmars, an account of a New York Zoological Society field trip to Trinidad and the Guianas. This stimulated his interest in the fauna of the eastern Caribbean.
Murphy studied at Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology in 1968. Then he obtained a Master of Science degree in Zoology (Animal Behavior & Ecology) from Governors State University in 1974.
John Murphy began his career in 1968. After receiving a master's degree in 1974, he began teaching at Plainfield Central High School of Plainfield Community Consolidated School District #202 where he taught General Biology, Advanced Placement Biology, Chemistry, and Geology. In addition, he was the Science Department Chair till 2007. From 1988 he is also a research associate at The Field Museum. He studies the behavior, ecology, evolution, and systematics of amphibians and reptiles. In 1989 he supervised a community ecology field study in the Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia. From 1992 until the present he has worked on homalopsid snakes. The book Homalopsid Snakes, Evolution in the Mud was an early product of that effort.
Other herpetological projects included writing Tales of Giant Snakes (with R. W. Henderson) and the Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2008 he founded JCM Natural History Photography. Today he's still working on the eastern Caribbean herpetofauna. He resides in southeastern Arizona and is involved in multiple projects that involve arid habitats and the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
Some of his books are Tales of Giant Snakes: A Historical Natural History of Anacondas and Pythons, a look at what he knows about the world's largest living snakes, based on published accounts between the 16th and 20th centuries; Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago, a survey of the T&T herpetofauna; A Field Guide to the Amphibians & Reptiles of Trinidad & Tobago that covers all of the country’s herpetological fauna, complete with species accounts and color plates, Arizona's Amphibians & Reptiles: A Natural History and Field Guide, and other publications. Murphy is still engaged in an educational career. He teaches at the University of Arizona where he leads courses in herpetology and biodiversity.
(For both the casual observer and the experienced naturali...)
2017(This is the only book dealing with the entire herpetofaun...)
1997(Homalopsid snakes are aquatic rear-fanged snakes that inh...)
2007(Snakes, particularly venomous snakes and exceptionally la...)
2019(Tales of Giant Snakes examines the natural history of fou...)
1997(Hundreds of thousands of dogs are bitten each year by ven...)
2016Quotations: "While some people have chosen to study birds, mammals, or fishes, I prefer amphibians and reptiles. There are some fascinating, untold stories about these ectothermic vertebrates and their relationships with humans, and I continue to work on them."
John C. Murphy speaks Spanish.
John C. Murphy married Katherine Faulhaber on December 22, 1972. The marriage produced one child, Sara Elizabeth.