Until now, no detailed treatment of the Pennsylvania herpetofauna has ever been published, nor have recent books dealt with the herpetofauna of the entire northeastern United States. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast is a comprehensive guide to the amphibians and reptiles of the whole region.

Each account contains a general description of the species, major color and pattern variations, ontogenetic changes in patterns and appearance, confusing species, range, and ecology and reproductive biology. This guide is intended for use by both amateurs and professionals and allows convenient retrieval of field data and natural history accounts.