Singing the Turtles to Sea

by Gary Paul Nabhan

"The Comcaac, or Seri Indians, live in the starkly beautiful and biologically rich desert of Sonora, Mexico. Reptiles of all kinds - lizards, crocodiles, snakes, and turtles - play a large role in their culture. Unfortunately, the long-term survival of the Comcaac and the future of many of these animals are uncertain. This book describes and preserves the richness of Comcaac knowledge about reptiles. Through stories, songs, photographs, illustrations of Comcaac arts, and discussions of Sonoran ecology, Nabhan demonstrates the irreplaceable value of this knowledge for us today." "This ethnobiology contains information on the origins, biogeography and conservation status of the marine and desert reptiles of the region and links the importance of preserving ecological diversity with issues such as endangered languages and human rights. Singing the Turtles to Sea ultimately points the way toward a more hopeful future for the native cultures and animals of the Sonoran Desert and for the pre