I hope my comments aren't considered biased, due to being a sponsor and owning Herp Books. I was a reptile book fanatic long before I owned the book store.
It all depends on what you're interests are. For captive husbandry/breeding, of course you can't go past Keeping and Breeding Australian Pythons and Keeping and Breeding Australian Lizards by Mike Swan. They contain lots of very useful information, but they are designed to be affordable reference guides, rather than impressive collector's items such as Dave and Tracey Barker's "Pythons of the World, Volume One: Australia". Although it's out of print, it comes up for sale a few times a year and is worth the price just for the amazing photographs, many of which are of rare localities/specimens.
The number one book that anybody with even the slightest interest in reptiles should read is Rick Shine's Australian Snakes - A Natural History. This book will make everything make sense...it's due for an update but it's still a very modern book.
If you're looking for a field guide, the only one to go for is A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia by Swan and Wilson. It's regularly updated, contains every species officially recorded in Australia and is easy to use. There are several state and "area" based field guides too, but they aren't necessarily considered a bible. The latest edition Cogger is now 11 years old and is quickly losing it's place as a relevant reference book.
There is a ton of readily available, out-of-print Australian books out there that are desired though - Ehmann, Wilson and Knowles etc, but they haven't reached the "must have, bible" status of the others I mentioned above.
G'day Mr Boyd,
I have a signed copy (both Dave and Tracey) available. It is missing the dustjacket, but it is in good condition. $200.
Cheers
Defs 'Keeping and Breeding Australian Pythons' edited by Mike Swan. I bought it yesterday and couldn't put it down and now I have finished reading! I highly recommend it, I have never finished a book that quickly!
G'day Diprotodon,
From memory...
Pseudonaja nuchalis has been split into three species
Demansia has an extra 4-5 species
Oxyuranus has a new species
Cryptoblepharus has many new species
Egernia has been split into 3 genera, and has several new species
A lot of freshwater turtles have been reclassified, with new species described and old species synonymised.
Several new species of Leaf Tailed Gecko.
At least one new species of Oedura
Two new species of Pygopus
At least one new species of Varanus
One new recognised species of Acanthophis
That's just off the top of my head. No doubt there have been new Ctenotus, Lerista etc described...and I have absolutely no idea what has happened taxonomically with regards to frogs in the last 11 years.
I for one will be looking to purchase Swan 2010 (now that you have made me aware of it)
Enter your email address to join: