Having originally trained as a biologist, after his studies Paul Starosta decided to combine his two main loves -- nature and photography -- to, logically, become a nature photographer. His specialist area is "little beasts", but in this book he focuses his attention on the incredibly vibrant world of frogs, toads, newts and salamanders.

Far from the brown and green slime-dwellers of childhood pond-dippings, the creatures depicted here are positively jewellike, their colors further enhanced by being photographed against a black background.

The texts by Teddy Moncuit provide a precise and passionate account of their fantastic adaptation strategies, revealing obscure, surprising, or even tragic aspects of their little-known lives.

Teddy Moncuit is a great traveller and nature lover, who has carried out many assignments in the tropics.

Paul Starosta has worked as professional photographer for more than twenty years. He has published over thirty books, winning several awards.